ADDIS ABABA – FOTON Motors Group, a Chinese vehicles manufacturer, announced its desire to engage in the production of electric cars in Ethiopia.
FOTON is a Chinese company that designs and manufactures trucks, buses and sport utility vehicles.
State Minister of Transport and Logistics, Denge Boru discussed with delegation of the company.
On the occasion, the State Minister thanked the members of the group for expressing their desire to participate in the transport and logistics sector by investing in the production of electric cars and added that his Ministry is ready to cooperate with various institutions to fill the demand gap in the sector.
He said apart from planting billions of trees across Ethiopia every year to curb the effects of climate change, the country is also engaged in expanding the growing demand for electric cars.
The State Minister said he is delightful to accept the desire of Foton to engage in the manufacturing of electric cars in Ethiopia.
Denge further noted that as a strategy to lure the manufacturers of electric cars in Ethiopia, the government has introduced a wide range of tax related incentives to encourage the sector.
In this regard, Foton Motors Group can effectively exploit the provisions of the incentive package by importing spare parts and assembling them in Ethiopia as GERD is under completion to ensure sustained supply of hydroelectric power.
Chang Rue, CEO of FOTON Motors Group has inquired on policy and national strategies that would enable his company to engaged in the production and marketing of electric cars in Ethiopia and was extensively briefed by the officials of the Ministry.
Chang said that FOTON Motors Group will make greater contributions in the production of energy saving and pollution free electric cars and would also conduct scientific and technological researches on further promotion of the sector and will work towards making the discussions conducted with the Ministry come to fruition.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 21 JUNE 2024
