The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Okyere Baafi, has commissioned a vehicle assembly plant at Tema, which falls under the Ejisu branch of Zonda Tec in the Ashanti Region.
The Assembly plant, which is under the 1D1F programme, is aimed at creating jobs for the local youth.
Government has approved an Incentive Framework specially designed for the 1D1F designated companies including tax holidays, duty waivers and corporate tax, all of which are designed to help build the capacities and competitiveness of these enterprises for greater productivity and efficiency.
Zonda Tec Ghana has invested over USD$10 million in the construction of its assembly plant and is expected to assemble and distribute a lot of trucks in the course of the year and will create a direct employment for over 300 people with the indirect jobs estimated at 500.
Addressing the media at the commissioning, Mr. Okyere Baafi, said the intention of the government is not to infuse money in the creation of factories under the program but to support the individuals to build the factories under government’s intervention.
According to Baafi, the program is a private sector based program with an incentive-like tax holidays, tax wavers, tax exemptions, and subsidies from the government to the companies.
He added that there are 278 1D1F companies across the country with 106 absolutely completed as 24 are in-the-pipeline. He has high hopes that the program will be sustainable especially in the Ashanti Region.
The Deputy Minister commended Madam Yang Yang, the Chief Executive Officer for Zonda Tec Ghana Limited and partners for putting up such a modernized edifice as he entreat all and sundry to get actively involved in the sustainability of the program, more especially the private companies.
Madam Yang Yang said the company has increased its growing demand for heavy duty trucks arising from growth in the transport, construction, mining and other related sectors and has also positioned itself to become a leading assembler and supplier of trucks in the country.
In addition, Madam Yang said Zonda Tec is supporting artisans with technology transfer and builds their capacities to assemble high quality trucks for both the domestic and foreign markets.
The Chief Executive officer hinted that, the reputation of its durable trucks, market know-how and timely delivery of services is to meet the requirement of its customers and to positioned the company as a major competitor in the transport, construction, mining, etc. sectors of the economy.
