Ethiopian-assembled cars sparks pride in local business — RedlineArchive

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Ethiopian-assembled cars sparks pride in local business

2000s 2007youtube

(2 Jul 2007) 1. Various Holland Car Assembly Plant, Mojo, Ethiopia 2. Various Tadesse Tessema, Owner of Holland Cars 3. SOUNDBITE: (Amharic) Tadesse Tessema, Owner of Holland Cars "I was exporting Ladas and other cars to be used as taxis in Addis Ababa but the vehicles were up to 22 years old. In Holland people pay to get rid of cars like these but I was exporting them to Ethiopia and I felt like I was using my homeland as a dumping ground. Whenever I arrived at the port with these cars I was ashamed of myself. So I thought that maybe I could start my own assembly line making cars here in Ethiopia." 4. Various car assembly plant 5. Various Haimanot Shume, Mechanic and Holland Car employee 6. SOUNDBITE: (Amharic) Haimanot Shume, Mechanic and Holland Car employee "Since I was a child I dreamed of being a mechanic, I asked myself why I can't be better than men at this job, I think women are better at this kind of thing as we are more responsible and the quality of our work is better." 7. Various 'DOCC' car 8. Various employees working on cars 9. Various Tadesse Tessema, Owner of Holland Cars 10. SOUNDBITE: (Amharic) Tadesse Tessema, Owner Holland Cars "Ethiopia has a very bad image abroad. People only see the country as having droughts and hungry people - they don't think about technology existing here. When people, like me, living abroad talk about starting up businesses like this in Ethiopia - they ask us why are you doing that? They think there is not even food in Ethiopia. This really amazes me and I think that by opening this car assembly plant - I can help to change people's views." 11. Various Tiblest Asgedom, Planning and Policy Department, Ministry of Transport and Communications 12. SOUNDBITE: (Amharic) Tiblest Asgedom, Planning and Policy Department, Ministry of Transport and Communications "We support Holland Cars' strategy to minimise environmental pollution in Addis, the city is very polluted and so we support his idea to use LPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas." 13. Various Anteneh Tamiru, Holland Car Customer 14. SOUNDBITE: (Amharic) Anteneh Tamiru, Holland Car Customer "I wanted to buy something locally produced with easy access to spare parts, good mileage, comfortable and fuel efficient. When I started driving the car around the city, people would wave at me and I'd wave back. But then I started realising that they weren't waving at me, they were waving at the car because they're so proud it's Ethiopian!" 15. Various Tadesse Tessema, Owner Holland Cars, driving out of factory LEAD IN : Ethiopia's known as a mass producer of such commodities as coffee and leather, but one ambitious Ethiopian is introducing a new idea to the country. Returning after nearly 30 years abroad, Tadesse Tessema has opened Ethiopia's first vehicle assembly plant - to the surprise of many Ethiopians. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/e487be358f9543b328fd1e4631337c38 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

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About This Footage

A Glimpse into Ethiopian Automotive Industry

The 2007 footage documenting the establishment of Holland Car) Assembly Plant in Mojo, Ethiopia, is a fascinating piece that offers a unique perspective on the country's automotive industry. The clip, titled "Ethiopian-assembled cars sparks pride in local business," showcases the efforts of Tadesse Tessema, the owner of Holland Cars, as he endeavors to create a domestic car assembly line.

What makes this footage notable is the context in which it was recorded. At that time, Ethiopia's economy was still recovering from years of turmoil and isolation. The country's reputation abroad was largely defined by its struggles with poverty, famine, and drought. However, Tessema's vision for a local car industry challenged these perceptions, highlighting the potential for innovation and entrepreneurship in Ethiopia.

The footage features interviews with Tessema, as well as his employees, including Haimanot Shume, a mechanic who expresses pride in her work and believes that women are better suited to this type of job due to their attention to detail. These personal anecdotes add a human touch to the narrative, illustrating the impact that this initiative has on the local community.

The DOCC (Dutch-built car) being assembled at the plant is also noteworthy. The fact that these cars were previously exported from Europe as old vehicles and are now being reassembled in Ethiopia speaks to the resourcefulness of Tessema's operation. By repurposing existing parts, the company is not only reducing waste but also creating jobs and stimulating local economic growth.

Tessema's comments on the negative image of Ethiopia abroad are particularly insightful. He notes that people often view his country as a place of poverty and famine, rather than innovation and technology. The establishment of Holland Car Assembly Plant serves as a counter-narrative to this perception, demonstrating that Ethiopia is capable of producing high-quality goods and creating employment opportunities.

The clip also features an interview with Tiblest Asgedom from the Ministry of Transport and Communications, which provides context on the government's role in supporting local industries. While the footage does not delve deeply into the specifics of their involvement, it suggests a collaborative effort between the private sector and government to promote economic development.

This 2007 clip offers a unique window into Ethiopia's automotive industry at a pivotal moment in its history. It highlights the challenges faced by entrepreneurs like Tessema, as well as the opportunities that exist for innovation and growth. As such, it remains an important document of the country's efforts to build a more diversified economy and challenge negative stereotypes about its capabilities.

Editorial context researched and compiled from verified sources.