Hawtai to create 750 new jobs in two years

Over 750 new jobs will be created between now and next year, when a Chinese firm, Hawtai, rolls out its Sports Utility and Sedan brand of Vehicles at the Eastern Vehicle Assembling Limited (EVAL) in Enugu for the Nigerian market billed for inauguration by President Muhammadu Buhar1.

The company, when fully operational, would roll out yearly, 6000 units of steel capacity vehicles, just as research conducted by the company indicated that at least 30 per cent raw materials input locally sourced would form part of assemblage of the 21st century stock of cars.

EVAL’s Managing Director, Sir Joseph Chika Okechukwu, who briefed newsmen in Enugu, said the firm was investing about N5 billion on the project, which he added, was in line with Federal Government’s effort to localise industries.

He stated that President Buhari would on Friday launch the vehicles and lay the foundation stone of the project sitting on 50 hectares of land at Egede, Ninth mile, Udi council area, adding that the vehicles are 100 percent steel construction.

“The project is one of a kind because the vehicles we are about to bring into Nigeria, is a 21st century technology vehicles. They are 100 per cent steel construction. This is in partnership with Hawtai in China. The vehicles are highly technological,” he stated.

Okechukwu, who was part of the Federal Government’s delegation during President Buhari’s visit to China, added that the interest in the Hawtai range of cars increased after the visit where the delegation discussed with officials of the company.

Okechukwu stated that the cars would benefit Nigerians due to their economy and other security features that would enable them become user friendly, adding that after two years, there was the likely hood of increase in the workforce to about one thousand.

He said the target was to make the Southeast zone the “hub of vehicles”, stressing that the newly inaugurated free trade zone would accelerate the economy of the zone.