Liu Qi (L) meets with Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga/XINHUA
The plant, which cost $50 million, was officially opened ON Monday by Prime Minister Raila Odinga and a visiting Chinese delegation led by Liu Qi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.
At the opening ceremony, Odinga said Kenya had to embrace manufacturing as a means of restoring and strengthening the middle class.
Odinga said a strong middle class is critical to Kenya’s growth and stability. He urged manufacturers to produce cheaper cars that would enable more Kenyans to afford new vehicles.
Liu said at the opening ceremony that China was exploring other areas of cooperation with Kenya, saying there was high potential in tourism to increase the number of Chinese visitors to the East African nation.
Second-hand vehicles command a large share of the market in Kenya, and 70 percent of the market share in East Africa. Analysts believe Chinese investment in the field could help change the situation.
The assembly plant will make Foton Motor company more competitive because it will avoid paying a 25-percent duty on fully built imported units.
The plant was expected to serve the rapidly growing market for pickups and light commercial vehicles in East Africa.
Analysts are of the opinion that by setting up the first Foton assembly plant in Kenya, the company has shown tremendous confidence in the economy of the country.
The company is currently in the process of recruiting dealers across East Africa.
Consumer trends here indicate that buyers go for vehicles that they know they can buy spare parts at the nearest town.
