ADIS ABABA– The first Isuzu vehicle assembly plant was inaugurated in Ethiopia, the outskirt of Addis Ababa, Alemgena, in the presence of senior government officials.
Speaking at the event, Transport and Logistics Minister Alemu Simie said that in the ever growing competitive transport sector, having a vehicle assembly plant would play a crucial role in bolstering the economy of the nation.
According to him, as assembly plants have a significant role in saving foreign currency, the Ministry will work aggressively to support the efforts of local producers.
He also said that the newly inaugurated Japan-made Isuzu vehicle assembly, sales and post-sales centre will play a significant role in creating employment opportunities for citizens and supporting the national economic reform.
At the event, Kaki Motors Private Limited Company Executive Officer Gebre-Michael Girmay said that the assembly plant will be instrumental in replacing imported products with local products. It is learned that the newly inaugurated centre will assemble 2,500 trucks a year when gets operational in full swing.
He further said that the opening of the Japanese version of Isuzu vehicles assembly, sales and after sales center is committed to replace imported products with domestic ones, and our organization pays due attention to human resource development and works with various educational institutions to recruit graduates with outstanding academic achievement to help them translate what they have learned in theory into practical actions.
Industry Minister Melaku Alebel on his part said Ethiopia has an area of more than 1.1 million square kilometers and 167,000 kilometers of road area so far, of which 28,000 kilometers have been completed in the last four years.
However, he said the total number of vehicles in the country does not exceed 1.2 million, which is no more than one percent of the total population.
“We need to have vehicles that fit the way we are stretched,” he said adding that there is a need to build enough factories not only for imported vehicles, but also for domestic production and assembly.
In addition to the Khaki Motors joints, other manufacturing ,Kaki Motors currently has four vehicle and five spare parts, as well as maintenance service centres and one main spare part and storage depot. Ethiopia is a country with great potential in Africa, said Mansour Ahmed, President of Isuzu Motors International.
Mansour said: “I have an ambitious vision for Kaki Motors to become a hub for the manufacturing sector in East Africa. I also believe that Ethiopia will play an important role in the African Free Trade Zone via working with and assisting Kaki Motors as it will maintain its world-class status and become a great competitor, especially in Africa.”
As to him, their commitment to the manufacturing industry is high and other investors will come to investment subsector and work diligently to create large manufacturing enterprises in the country, they have sought government support, of course.
He explained that it could be possible to create more than 1,500 additional jobs over the next five years by increasing200 vehicles a year to Kaki Motors’current production capacity.
BY NAOL GIRMA
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 22 OCTOBER 2023
