Ethiopian airlines has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Aerosud Holdings, a prominent South African Aerospace Manufacturing company, at a ceremony held at Ethiopian Headquarters.
The MoU is aimed at establishing a joint venture Aerospace Manufacturing company that manufactures and supplies various aircraft parts to Boeing, Airbus and other Aerospace companies.
Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO Ethiopian Airlines, remarked:
“Pursuant to our government’s industrialization policy embedded in the five years Growth and Transformation Plan (GTPII), we have reached into an agreement with Aerosud Group to establish and develop labor-intensive Aerospace manufacturing Industry.
It is my sincere belief that, the establishment of these facilities will surely create significant job opportunities for the young, educated task force and be another face of the industrial park development task that is being carried out in the Country. The manufacturing facilities, that will be set up in due course, are expected to be located in the vicinity of Bole International airport for good reasons of economy of scale and ease of import/export transportations. At last, I would like to thank all who worked hard towards the conclusion of this agreement.”
Mr. Johan Steyn, Managing director of Aerosud Group, commented:
“We are happy to establish this joint venture with Ethiopian airlines and we would like to share Aerosud’s long years of experience working with major Aircraft Manufactures such as Boeing and Airbus and help Ethiopian in the development of the aerospace manufacturing industry in the Country”
In a feasibility study to determine potential areas of manufacturing, Ethiopian has held rigorous discussions with Aircraft manufacturing companies such as Boeing, Bombardier and other aerospace manufacturing companies.