Name: Anteneh Tadesse
Career: Construction Engineer, construction material consultant
Education level: M.Sc. in Aeronautical Engineering (Building Acoustic specialist)
Company Name: SNABB Construction PLC
Position: Business developer
Birthplace: Addis Ababa
Nationality: SWEDISH
Anteneh Tadesse was born in Addis Ababa and went to Sweden at the age of 13, because his father lives there. He completed his education in Sweden in 2000/2001. He earned M.Sc in Aeronautical engineering from KTH (Royal Institute of Technology) in 2000.
After completing his education, Antenh had worked in multiple companies in Sweden for 10 years as a sales engineer for sound and vibration measurement gadgets. There the vital thing is not auctioning the material/ the technology for the client, but it is caring about the client’s need. Also conducting auctions on the materials with guiding knowledge is crucial. Those were entailed in Anteneh’s model. In general, he had been in Sweden for 25 years. He came back to Ethiopia in 2012 /2013.
Currently, he has planned to work and make his professional contribution to the construction industry in Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian Herald had a time with Anteneh Tadesse.
The Ethiopian Herald: Why did you come back to Ethiopia?
Anteneh Tadesse: I always think about my country’s development and the brick I can add. Ethiopia is my home country, hence I feel the responsibility of doing my part for the country’s holistic development. That is why I came back.
Furthermore, I always consider if I invest and share my knowledge in Ethiopia through already established business networks and investment linkages with Sweden investors and companies, I could stamp my fingerprint on the country’s development. That is why I came back to my country. That is I am now in Ethiopia and looking forward to playing my part.
Herald: How do you see the construction industry of Ethiopia?
Anteneh Tadesse: Obviously, the construction industry and technology are intertwined. The construction industry in Ethiopia is developing. Multiple construction companies are now getting involved in the sector and operating on road constructions, housing, commercial buildings, real estates, and others. This is the good side.
While the construction industry is booming, its sustainability (economic, social and environment) is under question. Not only that, it is becoming a threat to the future’s comprehensive development of the country unless it does not take in to account the environmental consequences.
Herald: What do you think are the major gaps in the sector?
Anteneh Tadesse: Lack of technology is not a major problem for low inclusive development in the construction industry of Ethiopia. However, using technologies without considering the local condition is a problem.
This is happening due to the absence of a specialized company in the country. In developed countries, there are multiple specialized companies in the construction industry. So, this simplifies the process and enables them to finish the projects in time and meet the desired working standards.
If the companies fulfill their duties according to the requirement, the construction industry depicts better performance. However, in our country there are companies, they lack skilled manpower. Due to this, the sector is performing below the standard resulting in environmental pollution.
Herald: So, how is your company planning to tackle such problems?
Anteneh Tadesse: In short, our company prioritizes specialization to be effective in its investment and business operation. And we are working on it. I believe that SNABB Construction PLC has come with specialized manpower and this would really help tackle multiple problems in the construction industry in the country.
Herald: Could specialization alone tackle the problems in the construction industry?
Anteneh Tadesse: Specialization is key, but it is not enough by itself. The cross fertilization of skilled manpower and technology could solve the problems in the industry. Our company has planned to work in this manner.
Compared to the housing demand in the country, the industry needs to work aggressively in order to satisfy citizens’ need. There are technologies that can solve our problems within the construction sector, but of course if complemented with a special effort to curb the problem.
Herald: How is your company planning to operate in the country?
Anteneh Tadesse: In order to solve problems that arise from lack of skilled manpower, our company has hired employees that have specialized in the field and fulfill the requirements the construction industry needs. We apply better construction technology and introduce a construction management system that will narrow the gaps that could open doors to corruption and financial waste. Hence, our company will soon start constructing a multi-storey building and all technologies will be applied. This will enable the country to have a healthy and safe construction environment.
Herald: What products and technologies are your organizations planning to produce in the country?
Anteneh Tadesse: We do not like to import things, but ideas. We borrow ideas that can solve our shortcomings. We have got an array of technologies that can be used in our local production.
For this to happen, our company has planned to take the big step forward with our new tower which will be built aided by technologies based on the local condition.
Herald: How different is your technology from existing technologies in Ethiopia?
Anteneh Tadesse: Both construction or irrigation farming needs technology. But, the technology may not be fast, durable, safe and economic. Hence, SNABB Construction PLC has planned to introduce fast, durable, environmental-friendly and efficient technologies that go with local situations.
Now my age is above 40. This is a real career season for me. And critical time for expanding business networks for sustainable and effective business operation. I did not come back to Ethiopia to retire. I came just to invest and play my role in the country’s development.
Eight years had passed since I came back to Ethiopia. For me, the past few years are the most difficult times to run business and manage investment as planned due to political unrest across the country and sluggish government response for our request. Hence, the company has stopped manufacturing and expanding its investment in the country. But, I have no idea to go back to Sweden. I have the vision to invest in the country.
Herald: What does the current situation of your company look like?
Anteneh Tadesse: Our company has received official license 6 or 8 months ago from Addis Ababa Investment Commission. We are working to upgrade the SNABB Construction PLC to a top-listed Building contractor. Besides, the reform by the government has given us hope to resume our project. Hence, we have planned to build high standard and environmental-friendly buildings.
In Ethiopia, a number of housing constructions are underway, but most of them are not complete in time. Even if they are said to be completed, they do not fulfill people’s demand for housing, water, electricity and waste management. But, our company is working to avail and complete the construction in time and provide the residences with everything. It gives a guarantee to handle possible problems.
Herald: What kind of technology is your company bringing to Ethiopia’s market?
Anteneh Tadesse: One of the technologies is Polished Concrete Flooring; a technology by Husqvarna Hiper Floor. It is a technology where one grinds and polishes the concrete floor so that the floor can look like granite and have the surface hardness as granite.
Herald: What is the significance of this technology?
Anteneh Tadesse: It is environment-friendly technology. It is one way of reducing the impact it has on both humans and the environment. The process incorporates the use of products that cause little environmental pollution.
It is significant to increase durability and reduces life cycle maintenance costs as well as surface coating costs, traditionally associated with flooring installations. The result is a smoother surface with reduced cleaning costs and other benefits.
Herald: What benefits does Ethiopia gain from using this technology?
Anteneh Tadesse: It is up to 30% cheaper than the existing technology. It saves hard currency and is a lifetime solution. It is the only floor solution where one can get an environmental point (green building certification). If once the government allowed public investment to operate utilizing this technology, it is possible to avail of the technology for local markets and enterprises.
If the government encourages and organizes enterprises to involve in this construction investment, our company is here to provide technical assistance for the enterprises. We also think that the enterprises will create thousands of job opportunities in the industry.
It will also accelerate the construction process to finalize in time as well as help to meet the housing and various demands of the people within a short period of time. This is possible because technology and trained personnel are available to guide the enterprises.
Herald: What would be the significance of adopting this technology in the long-run?
Anteneh Tadesse: It saves hard currency and creates job opportunities for the unemployed by utilizing the resource that the country is endowed with since our company mainly imports a few materials and utilizes resources like concrete and human power.
We use concrete for multiple constructions works by making chemical reactions. So, we only import technologies and chemicals. This is important for saving hard currency and utilizing local resources.
The Ethiopian Herald Sunday Edition 24 November 2019
BY MULATU BELACHEW AND MUSSA MUHAMMED
