Nissan Motor Co. Ltd is in discussions with the government of Ghana to establish an assembly plant in the country.

The company has expressed interest in helping the county to develop its automobile industry through the initiative.

Speaking at the ongoing Ghana Industrial Summit and Exhibition in Accra, Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyeremanteng disclosed that many agreements have been reached and will soon have Nissan in the country.

"We have added the automobile industry into our key initiatives to move the industrial transformation of this country but people were doubting. I tell you we have received a massive response from the private sector after we send the strong signal of industrializing the economy" Mr Kyeremanteng said.

He added, "look at the kind of proposals we are getting from big international companies when we kick-started the agenda, VW has already signed the MOU and the latest to join is Nissan far advanced with discussion to establish in Ghana.”

According to the Minister, ‘Ghana beyond aid agenda’ will survive with the support of the private sector - local and foreign.

He, therefore, used the opportunity to invite more private sector players to join the government in making Ghana an industrialized nation.

The Summit under the theme, ‘International partnerships for value-added industrial and local content development’ is an annual event organized by the Association of Ghana Industries, AGI.

President of AGI, Dr Yaw Adu Gyamfi called on the government to develop a national strategy for raw materials to feed the companies to be created out of the one district one factory initiative.

Local automobile sector

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in his keynote address lauded the role of the AGI in driving discussions on industrial initiatives.

He assured the local investment community that the entry of international vehicle manufacturing companies will not be a panacea for government to abandon the local industry.

"We are not looking at it like one supply but looking at a policy on the automobile for all players so that the Nissan and VWs incentives can be available for Katanka which is our local partner," he said.

According to Dr Bawumia, the government is working to revive the Volta Aluminum Company, Valco.

He said when this happens, they can produce parts for these vehicle assembling companies.