Stories by Moses Akaigwe 08072100049
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed last week by Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Ltd (IVM) and a Malian transport firm to export 400 units of made-in-Nigeria vehicles to the West African country is an indication that the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) is on course, in line with the Federal Government’s plan to use the NAIDP to position Nigeria as a major auto manufacturing hub for the sub-Saharan Africa regional market.
Director of Policy and Strategy, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. Luqman Mamudu, who disclosed this yesterday, said “it is a very positive development for our auto industry.”
Mamudu explained that, apart from the huge foreign exchange to be earned, the deal would also impact on the country’s balance of trade: “It is also very significant in the global perception of Nigeria as an auto manufacturing nation.”
Last week, the News Agency of Nigeria reported that Innoson signed an MoU with Taxi Plus VIP, a Mali-based transport firm, for the expansion of its transport business in that country.
The development was the outcome of a made-in-Nigeria products exhibition in Bamako in 2016.
According to the charge d’affairs of Nigeria in Mali, Yara Abdulsalam, the exhibition was facilitated by Ginco Group, a Nigerian firm based in Mali, to showcase Nigeria’s potential.
Abdulsalam, who made the announcement in Abuja when he accompanied a delegation of businessmen from Mali to the Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, said: “From the exhibition, Taxi Plus VIP approached the embassy that they wanted to import vehicles from China, but we told them that we have an indigenous company in Nigeria that manufactures vehicles.
“They started talking with Innoson through Nigerian Export Promotion Commission and the Executive Director/CEO, Mr. Segun Awolowo, and the deal was later finalised.
“Mali is the centre of Francophone countries and has boundaries with eight countries.
“If the MoU materialises, it will positively affect all other countries and will increase foreign direct investment in Nigeria.”
In his remarks, Onyeama expressed delight at the development and described it as “the beginning of industrial revolution in Nigeria.’’
He said that it was a good development that would enhance job creation and stem the rate at which youths embark on dangerous adventures to Europe in search of greener pasture.
The managing director of Ginco Group, Mr. Godwin Oguzie, said the 2016 made-in-Nigeria exhibition in Bamako was organised to enable Nigerian manufacturers know that opportunities awaited them in Mali to sell their products
Oguzie, who led Taxi Plus VIP to sign the historic MoU with Innoson, described the MoU as historic.
“We signed an MoU with Innoson Manufacturing Company to enable Taxi Plus increase its capacity to provide urban transportation system in Bamako.
“This is the first time a country in Africa is exporting locally manufactured vehicles to another country,” he said.
Led by the Mayor of Bamako, Mr. Harimakan Keita, the visiting Malians were scheduled to tour the Innoson plant in Nnewi, Anambra State, last week, where they were expected to be received the chairman of Innoson Group, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, OFR.
Also reacting to the deal, an auto industry stakeholder and chairman of the Auto Sectoral Group in the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Dr. D.V.C. Obi, described it as “a very huge achievement” for the industry, which is presently going through difficulties.
While commending the Malians for believing in the capability of Nigeria and Innoson in particular to meet their needs, Obi expressed the hope that the MoU would open the gates for more patronage of locally-made vehicles internally and from other African countries..
He, however, advised Innoson to ensure that the vehicles to be exported to Mali were produced to the best standards with adequate arrangement for after-sales support, “so that they (the cars) will speak eloquently for the Nigerian auto industry in that country.”