FG pledges support for Innoson auto plant
•General Tyres seeks expatriate quota
By Moses Akaigwe [igwemos@sunnewsonline]
Friday, March 26, 2010
•Innoson Luxury bus and other vehicles from the Nnewi plants being showcased at the event
Photo:Sun News Publishing
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The Federal Government has once again assured the management of Nigeria’s newest and biggest automotive plant, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited (IVM), Nnewi, Anambra State, of its support in order to ensure that the vehicles that roll off the production lines are not starved of patronage.
Speaking at a forum in Enugu last week ahead of the launch of the eastern zonal leg of the Buy-Made-in-Nigeria campaign, the Director in charge of Commodities and Products in the Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Usman M.D. Gwandu, said the vehicles so far produced by the new plant are of high quality standards, and therefore, deserve the best of patronage.
Gwandu who represented the ministry following the recent dissolution of the cabinet by Acting President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, was reacting to an appeal by the Chairman of Innoson Group of Companies, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, OON, for support while showing the visitor the interior of an Innoson luxury bus on display during the reception.
The following conversation had ensured between the director and Chief Chukwuma inside the bus:
“You mean this vehicle was made by you in Nnewi?”
“Yes, of course, they were made at our plant in Nnewi and a good number of the parts and accessories are sourced locally”.
“This is wonderful. The vehicle looks very impressive”.
“Thank you. We will always do our best. What we need is the support of the Federal Government”
“With the commendable work you are doing, the Federal Government will surely support you”.
Alhaji Gwandu later told Daily Sun Motoring in a brief chat that he was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the vehicles on display, including mini buses and an SUV. He disclosed that support for Innoson would come in form of creating enabling environment and mobilizing patronage for them in neighboring countries.
Innoson Technical had in an address by Innoson Group’s Executive Director, Mrs. Ebele Chukwuma, said the vehicle-manufacturing sister company had displayed its products to show that the plant had started rolling out various top quality, rugged and durable models in line with the demand of the on-going buy Nigeria campaign.
She decried the state of insecurity in the south-east, which she said was discouraging investments in the area, lamenting that two years after three workers at the Nnewi auto plant were kidnapped and one of the two Chinese victims killed in the process, the business man alleged to have sponsored the act was yet to face justice.
Addressing guests at the reception, including Enugu State Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Chief Clement Okwor, and other manufacturers at the forum, Gwandu said: “I want to commend Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited for these wonderful products I have seen today. The vehicles are of very high quality standards, and we must all be proud of the initiative. I strongly commend Innoson for its efforts”.
Okwor also lauded the investment strides of the Innoson Group Chairman and the quality of the range of vehicles showcased at the reception.
At the nearby General Tyres and Tubes Limited, also member of Innoson Group owned jointly by Nigerian and Chinese investors, the management showed the delegation from the Commerce and Industry Ministry, a range of heavy components of the plant, including a huge steam boiler, yet to be installed because the expatriates to do the job had not been issued the permit to visit Nigeria.
The Managing Director, Mr. Sunny Ezeobiora, disclosed that despite formal requests and follow-ups in Abuja, expatriate quota was yet to be approved for General Tyres and Tubes to enable the technical experts come and install the wide range of machinery so that the factory would start production.
Echoing Ezeobiora’s request, Chief Chukwuma said General Tyres and Tubes would not only enhance the nation’s tyre technology, but would also have the capacity to create thousands of jobs as well as meet the country’s motorcycle tyres and tubes needs, thereby save billions of naira foreign exchange currently los to importation.
It was leant that General Tyres and Tubes will commence operations with the manufacture of tyres and tubes for motorcycles. However; Chief Chukwuma informed the Cmmerce and Industry delegation that with time, the factory would be expanded to manufacture tyres for cars and commercial vehicles.
http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/motoring/2010/mar/26/motoring-26-03-2010-001.htm
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