There’re indications that officials of leading auto makers, Suzuki, Toyota and CFAO are planning to set up auto plant in Ghana instead of Nigeria despite its huge market potentials.
Officials from Suzuki Motor Corporation, gave the hints when he visited Ghana’s president, Akufo-Addo recently, adding that his company is in talks with Toyota Tsusho Corporation and CFAO on a possible joint venture in the country.
According to local website Graphic Online, during a courtesy call on president Akufo-Addo, Koyote Suzuki, Suzuki’s general manager for the Middle East and Africa of Suzuki Motor Corporation, said, with the company producing 1.8m vehicles in India alone, “my mission is to find our next India in the continent of Africa”.
“Our next phase of growth will come from Africa but we need to find the right partner in Africa for manufacturing, distribution aftersales service of our vehicles.”
Suzuki, he said, had partnered with Toyota in Africa, and was currently working in 26 countries.
“We came to know from Toyota that the Ghanaian government is planning to roll out a new automotive policy. We heard this from Toyota executives who paid a visit here last month. We are highly interested in participating in this initiative by the Ghanaian government. We wish to start production here, grow it and expand it,” Koyote Suzuki added.
Masafumi Yamashita, from Toyota Tsusho Corporation, noted Toyota Corporation and CFAO have the largest automotive distribution network in Africa, and have the ambition to contribute to and support further development in African countries.
“Our vision is with Africa and for Africa. This time, we commit to work together with Suzuki Motor Corporation for the future development of the automotive industry here in Africa, as a strategic partner,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo said his government was interested in developing a vibrant and dynamic automobile industry in Ghana and had made several initiatives towards that end.
“Finally, I believe we are now ready to [announce] our automotive policy which will enable people like you know what is available to you in terms of government support, and also the obligations that will be upon you, if you enter the Ghanaian space,” the president added.
He told the delegation that “you are very welcome, and it will be very good news for the people of Ghana if they were to hear that Suzuki has teamed up with Toyota Tsusho and CFAO to establish a facility here in Ghana.”
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