Isuzu, Koncept to start local assembly of trucks in 2016
Nigeria’s Automotive Policy has continued to gain traction, with Isuzu Motors Limited and Koncept Autocentre Limited, its Nigerian distributor, announcing plans to start truck assembly in the second quarter of 2016.
This is coming on the heels of CFAO Yamaha Motors Nigeria Limited’s assumption of motorcycles assembly late last month.
Taku Miyazaki, trade commissioner and managing director, Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), said Yamaha began assembling motorcycles in Lagos late last month, while Isuzu just announced plans to begin assembly of trucks next year.
At the just concluded Lagos International Trade Fair, Miyazaki, while addressing select journalists, said a number of Japanese companies have indicated interest to expand businesses in Nigeria, promising that these firms will transfer advanced technology and machinery that will assist the country’s manufacturers.
The trade commissioner said Japanese car companies believe they can assemble and produce automobiles in Africa’s largest economy and export same to other African countries.
“Olam Sanyo Foods Limited, a joint venture of Japanese Sanyo Foods Company Limited and Olam International in Singapore, has also been producing instant noodles ‘Cherrie’ since last year,” Miyazaki said.
“They are not just making and selling their products in Nigeria. They create jobs, educate staff, transfer technology and share values of Japanese craftsmanship. I believe that can serve development in the Nigerian manufacturing sector and contribute in diversifying its economy,” he said.
He identified areas of business cooperation between Nigeria and Japan as manufacturing, engineering and infrastructure.
“Japan has competitiveness in manufacturing and automobiles. Secondly, there is much cooperation in engineering and infrastructure,” he said.
“On the other hand, there is huge opportunity in agriculture in Nigeria. The export of Nigeria to Japan is dominated by natural gas. However, Nigeria is the number one sesame seeds supplier to Japan. We also import cocoa from Nigeria,” he disclosed.
He also said many small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) producing high-quality products participated in the Japan pavilion.
He further said that Japan’s main exports to Nigeria are machineries, automobiles and steel products, adding that many Japanese exhibitors at the Lagos International Trade Fair this year have more customers than they did in 2014.
Confirming this, Osamu Ishikawa, managing director, Honda manufacturing (Nigeria) Limited, said: “We received more visitors than last year and their responses were very positive.”
According to Ishikawa, Honda has a long history of manufacturing motocycles at the factory in Otta, Ogun State, adding that its sister company Honda Automobile West Africa Limited, also began assembly of passenger vehicles ‘Accord’ in Nigeria since July.
“We have strong confidence in our technology and quality of products, not only motorcycles and passenger vehicles, but also wide variety of power generators. That can benefit Nigerian citizens’ quality of life,” he said.
Among the exhibitors at the trade fair are Panasonic Marketing &Services Limited, Toyota (Nigeria) Limited, Yokogawa Nigeria Limited, CFAO Motors Nigeria Limited, CASIO Middle East FZE, Suzuki Motor Corp, R.T Briscoe, Taiyo Industry Africa, among others.
Odinaka Anudu