STORY: Chinese electric vehicles put into use in Ethiopia
SHOOTING TIME: March 6, 2024
DATELINE: March 10, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:04
LOCATION: Addis Ababa
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the local company Belayneh Kindie Metal Engineering Complex, where these Chinese electric minibuses are assembled in Ethiopia
2. STANDUP (English): LIU FANGQIANG, Xinhua correspondent
3. various of electric minibuses on the roads of Addis Ababa
4. SOUNDBITE 1 (Amharic): ADUGNA ADAMU, Minibus driver
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BESUFEKAD SHEWAYE, General manager of Belayneh Kindie Metal Engineering Complex
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Amharic): BEZUAYEHU ABERA, Production manager of Belayneh Kindie Metal Engineering Complex

STORYLINE:

STANDUP (English): LIU FANGQIANG, Xinhua correspondent
"Recently, some electric minibuses have appeared on the roads of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, as a means of public transport. This is one of the latest moves of the Ethiopian government to cut the carbon dioxide emissions, like what many countries do in the rest of the world.
As we all know, electric vehicle is the future trend. And I heard these electric minibuses are imported from China, not in the form of a whole vehicle, but in different small parts, and then they are assembled here in this factory for two reasons. The first reason is that the price is more reasonable if they are assembled here in Addis Ababa. And the second reason is that this can help boost local employment, according to this company."
   
SOUNDBITE 1 (Amharic): ADUGNA ADAMU, Minibus driver 
"Electric vehicles are advantageous for both the driver and owner. Gasoline vehicle owners pay for fuel, while EV owners take all the money they earn each day except charging."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BESUFEKAD SHEWAYE, General manager of Belayneh Kindie Metal Engineering Complex
"Starting from 2023 half year, we imported CKD (completely knocked down) parts of the electrical minibus as you see from the workshop, and we assembled around 216 units over the last three or four months and avail it for Ethiopian market. Electric minibuses have a capacity of 15 seats. It is high-roof, well ventilated and has a good space inside."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Amharic): BEZUAYEHU ABERA, Production manager of Belayneh Kindie Metal Engineering Complex
"Four Chinese engineers came here and trained local engineers. They offered us a high standard training both in theory and practice. After we took the training, we have been assembling these electric vehicles by ourselves."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Addis Ababa.
(XHTV)