In yesterday’s article, the writer discussed the sigmificant progress METEC brought in the industrial sector of the country in GTP-I. This piece is the continuation of Part-I.
Located at Bishoftu, a town increasingly becoming a centre for lodges and hotels, Bishoftu Automotive Industry is the relatively old industry compared to other METEC’s counterparts. The presumably town-sized industry is home to new technologies and wonderful jobs in the era of Ethiopian automotive industry. Many vehicles ranging from pick-ups to heavy duty tracks and armoured tanks are spotted inside the compound.
The industry’s products, Bishoftu buses are currently providing transportation services. The industry is assembling and producing these automotive products. According to the working procedure, a delay in a given department is a delay in the overall working process. It is also planning to build new 27 automotive engineering zones throughout the country in the coming years.
Bishoftu Automotive Industry General Manager Gebremedhin Zeselassie said that the industry, apart from its ongoing activities, is planning to open 27 automotive engineering zones that will be assembling and manufacturing motorcycles, bicycles, light and heavy duty trucks and other vehicles in all state administrations. Currently, working with 280 small and micro enterprises, the zones will be run by efficient enterprises.
According to Gebremedhin, the Industry, besides assembling and manufacturing different civil and military vehicles, is providing professional training to neighbouring countries. Having around 3,000 workers, the Industry assembles and produces pick-up, station-wagon, light and medium trucks, minibus and other buses.
The industry has already held talks with Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda with the former to build motor production factories for the latter. Kenya also made an order to buy 400 buses from the Industry. The Industry is providing armoured tanks, military vehicles for Ethiopian and African peacekeeping missions deployed in Somalia, South Sudan and others. This is building the image of the country in the international community, added Gebremedhin.
It has been a while since the establishment of the locomotive industry. The Industry has been set up with a mission to manufacture different types of public and freight rolling stock besides upgrading and producing light rail transits. The Industry was also among the other that has been visited by the President. Inside the Industry’s shop is a train same-like Addis Ababa city trains giving transportation services. But what makes the train different is that it is locally made with Ethiopian hands and knowledge. The impression doesn’t stop there. In the the other edge of the shop, people are seen working without a break in the production of the cross-country train. The Industry, although at the early days of its establishment, has been engaged in many operations.
Its works are not only limited to production of light transits, as we could see in the shop, it is also manufacturing boat that will be used in the Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Day to be held at Gambella State. The Industry plans to produce 20 light transit trains per annum. While the country marches for latest railway transportation system, the contribution of the locomotive industry is significant. And this is well understood by the leaders and the staff of the Industry. Besides safeguarding the peace and security, the Ethiopian Defence Force has been engaged in expanding a number of industries building domestic manufacturing capacity.
“METEC is also speeding up the country’s move to industrialization,” is the statement used by the President to describe his impression about the industry’s strides in enhancing industrialization.
For the country to sustain its peace and security, it has to have strong military armed with latest weapons, hence, the corporation’s industries are also heavily engaged in producing and renewing ammunition, and other military equipment. The military products are being used not only by Ethiopian peacekeeping force but also by other African countries said President Dr. Mulatu referring to the Dejen and Homicho and Gafat industries that are mainly engaged in ammunition armament and aircraft production .
These industries have been instrumental in building Ethiopian military capacity. Dejen Aviation Industry is renewing and upgrading war planes and other aircraft to provide the Ethiopian Air Force with latest technologies.
According to the General Manager Kidu Tsegaye, the Industry has built its capacity that would enable it to manufacture air planes and supply to Air Force. The Industry also renew and upgrades military air plane, helicopter, and others used by the Air Force. The industry is also producing unmanned air planes for conducting military exploration. The industry renews military aircraft of Kenyan, Djibouti, Rwandan and Sudanese aviation at cheaper cost .
It costs around 2.5 million USD to renew an air plane internationally but the Industry provide renewal services at a cost of 390,000 USD. Giant aviation companies such as AIRBUS are desirous to work with the Industry in various areas, added the General Manager.
Homicho Ammunition Factory General Manager Hadgu Gebreyess told journalists that the factory is producing 26 kinds of light, medium and heavy ammunition. Its supply is arming the defence force with efficient ammunition. Each and every produced ammunition has to go through tests before handed over to the military while quality is never compromised, added the General Manager.
The factory in collaboration with universities also plans to manufacture long-range ammunition ahead, said Hadgu. In addition to building local capacities of the private sector and small and micro enterprises, the industries have got high attention from neighbouring countries. Countries like Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia are desirous to work with the corporation and access its some products, journalists were told following the visit .
In the other hand, the country has seen the price of construction machinery sky-rocketing in the past ten years. The market for the machinery has also been unstable. Stabilizing the price of construction machinery is the priority area said the Metal and Engineering Corporation Construction, Engineering Machinery Industry General Manager Kahsay Kisshen. Located at Debre Birhan, it is contributing its own share in stabilizing the market price for construction machinery through supplying machineries at fair price, he said.
Kahsay also said hat the industry is engaged in assembling and manufacturing of construction machinery such excavators, rollers, graders and loaders in various design and varieties. Using domestic capacities, the industry also re-manufacture and renew used construction machinery owned by various organization, added the General Manager.
According to Kahsay, the industry is producing locally designed and manufactured machines supplied to mega projects including Grand Renaissance Dam and a numbers of Sugar Factories. So far the industry has assembled and manufactured 2083 machinery. Organized under 112 associations and working as a staff, the industry has already accommodated more than 2474 workers, he added.
Solar Equipment Production Factory is aligned with the renewable energy targets of the country. The factory is manufacturing solar energy panels and electrification equipment with the capacity of generating 100 MW per year. Ethiopia has huge potential for solar energy and the factory is supplying solar panels used for health faculties and schools particularly for those located at rural areas, he said, adding that having around 70 employees, the factory accords due attention to quality products and its products are highly demanded in the local market.
Although, the trend of buying home-grown and home-made products seems to be a challenge for the Ethiopian manufacturing sector when it comes to electronic products. The General Manager of Hi-Tech Manufacturing Industry Temesgen Asemamaw said the Industry is currently producing different electronics such as Fana TV and Fana Mobile, Smart Meters and other military equipment including radio communication and radars. Having around 600 workers, the industry supplies its products with highest quality and fair price added the General Manager.
Concluding his week-long visit to METEC’s Industries, FDRE President Dr. Mulatu Teshome lauded the Corporation’s ongoing effort to meet domestic demand and reach international market with industrial products.
Speaking at the press conference held at Adama Agricultural Machinery Industry Premise, President Dr. Mulatu said that METEC has been tremendously involved in manufacturing industrial products ranging from light to heavy machinery.
Women and men professionals are equally involved in the industries and the industries have also become a platform for technology and knowledge transfer. The corporation’s solar energy equipment production factory is key to realize the country’s efforts to build resilient economy and promote renewable energy. what the industries producing are a spring board to enhance infrastructural facilities, added Dr. Mulatu.
In a nutshell, the Corporation deserves standing ovation for what it has achieved but transferring its experiences and technologies to the private sector is far from over; hence, it has to do more to help small scale and micro enterprises and private companies to follow its step not only in producing new technologies in connection with building committed staff.