Chinese Cars On Ghana's roads

As a result of the President's investment tour to China, a Chinese Company, Winstep Automobile Company Limited has introduced Chinese Pick-ups and cars into the Ghanaian market in order to boost the drive of the country’s economy. There is also plans to establish a tractor manufacturing plant in Ghana to serve as a distribution point for West African when its operation becomes successful in the country.

The Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Presidential Special Initiative (PSI), Kwadwo Asiedu-Afram, who stood in for the President at the launch of Chinese Pick-ups in Ghana, said the President is pleased that the Chinese Company has responded to his call to invest in the country.

He said other companies like Alcatel and others from Korea, Mauritius, Morroco have also been seeking investment avenues in Ghana.

The Deputy Minister charged the Company to try and introduce tractors into the Ghanaian market as they promised President Kufuor when he met them in China. Asiedu-Afram said the Ministry of Trade and Industry has launched an industrial revolution scheme which involves the development of an export oriented industrialization drive, focused primarily on agro processing and other manufacturing activities that involve mass mobilization of rural communities and other vulnerable groups.

“The second strategy is a comprehensive Domestic Market-Oriented Industrialisation Programme targeted at producing locally a substantial proportion of non-petroleum imports, as well as processed food and other agricultural products.

He said by implementing strategy, Ghana hopes to ascend to greater height, to effectively lubricate this industrial revolution, especially the agro-processing programme.

“Therefore the government is inviting you (Winstep) to look into other areas where you can help in manufacturing of other equipment for those purpose”, he urged.

He urged the Chinese Company to look into other areas of cooperation with the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering of University of Science and Technology by way of introducing them to advanced technological agricultural development.

Asiedu-Afram further said the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Presidential Special Initiative would welcome a joint venture with them to operate foundries, metal working and machine tool centre for the manufacturer of machine tools, equipment and spare parts to support the industrialization effort.

He lauded the establishment of a Ghana- China Chamber of Commerce adding that he is optimistic that the areas of cooperation between the two countries would be deepened and it’s a steeping stone for greater interaction.

The Execitive Director of Winstep Automobile Company Limited, Liu Wenmin said the move to invest in the Ghanaian Automobile industry sprang from the call made by the President on his recent visit to China and his meeting with the business community to come and invest in Ghana.

According to him, he found such invitation laudable, hence his unrelenting move to invest in Ghanaian industry and noted that the merit of this venture depend largely on patronage of the vehicles.

The company is introducing into the Ghanaian market different models of made-in-China, very hard, rugged, stable, comfortable and fuel saving pick-ups. Models on display at the launch were ‘The Great Wall Monster’, ‘the Great Wall Sars’ and ‘the Deer Sailor; all (Super 4*4 AWS) double cabin pick-ups.