Bishoftu Automotive Engineering Industry
Bishoftu Automotive Engineering Industry is a manufacturing and assembly center for heavy armament, tanks and military vehicles. It is one of the organizations of the Ethiopian Defense Industry supporting the Ethiopian National Defense Force.
History
The complex was set up in 1987 as a heavy repair center for tanks and armored vehicles. The Derg regime had plans to eventually produce tanks, armored vehicles, aircraft missles like air-to-air missiles and SCUD missiles at the complex.
Operations
The Ethiopian government is doing everything to transform the country’s economy from its current dependency on rain fed agriculture. Although the country’s economy is highly dependent on agriculture it is not farfetched to imagine an Ethiopian economy that is based on manufacturing and modern heavy industries like mining. While the mining Industry is still for most part in the preliminary stage of development the manufacturing sector is off to a good start. One among the few home grown manufacturing sectors is the huge Bishoftu Automotive Industry on the outskirts of Addis Ababa. I stopped by for a visit and to my surprise I found out the facility is manufacturing eight types of automotive and Defense Vehicles including Modern T-72 Tanks. Col. Gebremedhin Z/Selassie, GM of Bishoftu Automotive Industry, METEC , is a very young looking well-mannered and educated General Manager of this huge complex. He oversees the manufacturing of all products in the vast compound that employs over 3 thousands workers. The colonel confidently told me over 39% of the work force are women. In the few years of the operation of the facility he has managed he has transformed the company. Short of being a garage that repairs military vehicles and tanks it has now emerged to a well-managed production factory. The former government of Ethiopia established this facility to serve as garage and manufacturing of light armaments. The EPRDF government, credit to PM Meles, changed the facility to what it is today. The complex is structured in five departments as follows:
- Tanks and armored vehicles manufacturing Rebuild of all tanks and armored vehicles used by Ethiopian forces.
- Military Vehicles manufacturing
Maintaining light and heavy trucks used by the Ethiopian ground forces.
- Motor manufacturing and Mechanical workshop
The department manufacturing engines and produces spare parts for tanks, armored vehicles and military trucks.
- Medium and Heavy weapons manufacturing and electroplating section
Repair and support of supply logistics by repairing and overhauling medium and heavy weapons. The electroplating shop is the largest both in its diversity and capacity in Ethiopia.
- Communications Apparatus manufacturing and Maintenance Section
Repair and maintain various communications apparatuses and electronic equipment in use with the Ethiopian forces.
Other services
In order to fully utilize its capacity and generate income, the center provides services to civilian customers through spare parts supply, electroplating services, and manufacturing machineries for various civilian industries.