China considers partnership in Mozambique to manufacture buses

Representatives of China’s Ministry of Trade and the Xiamen Golden Dragon Bus Co. were in Maputo last week to analyze the possibility of setting up a partnership in public transport, according to Mozambican daily newspaper Notícias.
On Friday, the members of the delegation visited the Matchedje Motor car assembly plant, in the town of Machava, Maputo province to get acquainted with the unit, whose capacity could be enhanced to produce even more buses in the country.
Notícias also wrote that the Xiamen Golden Dragon Bus Co., a subsidiary of the King Long Group, one of the largest bus manufacturers in China, will focus the potential partnership in Mozambique on providing technical support to Matchedje Motor Ltd in the bus segment.
The managing director, Sandra Song, said the company was currently operating at a reduced level as it is building a 590-hectare industrial park in Maluana, in Maputo province. The project involves an increase in production to 100,000 vehicles per year by 2017, following which there will be a new expansion phase to about 500,000 vehicles.
The Matchedje Motor project, established just over four years ago, is the result of an investment by the China Tong Jian Investment Co. Ltd, and at this initial stage is operating with two assembly lines, a painting area and another area for inspections. MDT/Macauhub