Business News of Thursday, 6 September 2018

Source: classfmonline.com

Sinotruk to establish truck assembly plant in Ghana

President Akufo-Addo with Zhang Yuzong President Akufo-Addo with Zhang Yuzong

Sinotruk International, China’s first heavy-duty truck manufacturer, has signed an agreement with the Government of Ghana to establish an assembly plant in Ghana, to serve both Ghanaian and West African markets.

This was after the Ministry of Trade and Industry, on behalf of the Government of Ghana, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sinotruk International, on Wednesday, 5 September 2018, at the Ghana-Shangdong Business Conference, for the establishment of the plant.

Speaking to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, after the signing ceremony, the General Representative of Sinotruk International, Zhang Yuzong, indicated that the company has a proud history of being manufacturers of a wide range of heavy duty trucks, buses, special trucks, engines and their sets, parts and special chassis.

The assembly plant in Ghana, when established, will initially have the capacity to assemble some 1,500 trucks per year for sale in Ghana and West Africa.

Having produced some three 300,000 trucks in 2017, and possessing an employee strength of forty 40,000 the Sinotruk Representative was confident that the establishment of the plant in Ghana will create jobs for Ghanaians, as well as rake in significant amounts of revenue for the country.

The establishment of the assembly plant, he added, will result in the training of Ghanaians to assemble the trucks, and the transfer of technology.

On his part, President Akufo-Addo expressed his delight about Sinotruk International’s decision to establish the assembly plant in Ghana.

“We are very appreciative of your interest in our country and its development, and whatever we need to do to grow your business in Ghana, we are prepared to do it,” the President said.

He assured Sinotruk International that “Ghana is a peaceful and stable country, and we are strong believers in the rule of law”, adding that the agreements that have been reached between the Government of Ghana and Sinotruk will be respected.

With West Africa’s current population of some 350 million people set to reach some 500 million in 20 years, President Akufo-Addo described Ghana as “an ideal place to have your base for reaching the West African market.”