Hagbes was established in 1957 by its founder Hagop Behesnilian as an importer of machinery and building materials. After the passing away of the founder, the present management under the directorship of Hrair Behesnilian, founded in 1969 a flour milling complex. During the year from 1970 to 1974 another flour milling complex, a feed mill and two pasta production factories were installed, making the group one of the largest concerns of their kind in East Africa. ! However with the coming in power of the communist regime of the previous regime, all our industrial activities were nationalised, and our commercial activities restricted