July 2004 saw the completion of a joint venture between Slovakian tyre manufacturer Matador and the Addis Tyre Company (ATC) of Ethiopia. The initial discussions began in the year 2000 when Matador management visited Ethiopia to talk about mutual co-operation and technology transfer.

A basic agreement was signed in July 2002 between Matador, ATC and Addis Ababa and Public Enterprise Supervising Authority (PESA) to establish a joint venture with capital inputs for the production and sale of bias ply truck tyres, bias ply light truck and passenger car tyres, plus radial passenger car tyres.

Matador sees the joint venture as an opportunity to develop the Addis factory and at the same time to take advantage of reduced operating costs. The Puchov plant is scheduled to cease production of bias-ply tyres by the end of March next year, which will enable capacity to be increased in passenger and light truck radial and obviate the need for redundancies.

April this year saw the signing of the “Agreement on the Establishment of Matador-ATC Joint Venture for the Production of Tyres” at a ceremony at the Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa. Capital holdings in the JV are 61 per cent Matador and 39 per cent ATC. The agreement was signed by Mr Ing Stefan Rosina, president of Matador and Mr Ato Girma Biru, minister of industry and trade for the Ethiopian Federative Democratic Republic (EFDR).

The latest meeting was held in early July to launch production of the tyres and this time Matador was represented by Mr Ing Stefanom Rosinom, chairman of the board of directors of Matador and Doc. Stefan Prekop, general director. The Slovak delegation was received by the President of the EFDR, Mr Girma Wolde-Giorgisa.

President Mr Girma Wolde-Giorgisa said: “Ethiopia is the heart of the African continent and its development and prosperity depends on the increase of the technological level of industry, education, know-how and capital imports from foreign investors. I believe that the successful establishment and functioning of the Matador – ATC joint venture will become an example and a challenge for other foreign companies. I am glad that Matador has established its activities in our country” he concluded.

For Matador, Mr Ing Stefan Rosina said that the company “had found good partners in Ethiopia.” He added: “Conditions of business oriented towards the development of the domestic industry and market are good, but also conditions of export possibilities and the purchase of raw materials. I am convinced that the joint venture will achieve a good standing and importance like our joint venture in Omsk, Russia.”