Vice President opens bilateral talks with SKODA Group of Companies

From George-Ramsey Benamba, GNA Special Correspondent in Plyzen, Czech Republic

Plyzen, Nov. 12, GNA - The Vice President on Thursday visited the SK= ODA Group of Companies in Plyzen, in the Czech Republic and forged partnershi= p with the corporate entity to help Ghana to operate urban rail transport a= nd generate more electricity.

The companies, based in the Czech industrial city are engaged in the manufacturing of light trains (tramps) for urban rail transport, power generation and the manufacturing of vehicles.

The visit of the sites formed part of Vice President Mahama's five-da= y official visit to the country, where he addressed a Trade and Investment Forum and met with President Veclav Klaus and Prime Minister Petr Necas. Vice President Mahama said government was bent on introducing the tra= mp system in Accra, to be replicated in other major cities of the country. He said the project would create jobs for the youth and decongest cit= y roads. Vice President Mahama called on the Czech government to send experts to Ghana for feasibility studies, adding: "We in government will also send Ghanaians to come and understudy your system for implementation." During his visit to SKODA Engineering terminals he said: "Ghana has t= he potential to generate and transmit more electricity and our collaboration=

will help us to realise our dreams to the fullest and to move us from our=

current state."

Mr Rostislav Ovcarik, Area Sales Director of SKODA light trains said the Vice President's visit to their company was an opportunity for them to redirect their market to Africa.

He stressed: "We shall be happy to have our partners in Ghana in the provision of tramps, as we stand the chance of reaching out to other countries in the sub-region. The Sales Director called on Ghana to fast track the business relatio= ns in order to give the business entity the opportunity to expand their mark= et base.