Delta Government and Stallion Auto Keke Limited on Tuesday reached an agreement to establish tricycle manufacturing plant in the state.
Dr Kingsley Emu, Chief Economic Adviser to the Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa disclosed this at the exhibition of the new Auto Keke Bajaj tricycle in Asaba.
Emu said the temporary manufacturing plant will be sited along the Benin Asaba Expressway, Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area of the State.
He said the partnership is a humongous project because of Stallion’s reputation as a leading and foremost automobile player and global brand with model automobile showrooms across the country.
He said the state was leveraging on the company’s successful operations in the past 52 years to replicate their success story in Delta to boost employment generation, wealth creation, skills acquisition and enhance the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
According to Emu, Delta government is providing incentive and enabling environment while Stallion is providing the state government with 3% equity stake in the venture.
“The Auto Keke Tricycle plant shall be consummated under a PPP arrangement with Delta State Government providing enabling environment and land to establish the plant.
“Delta is famous for entrepreneurship and job creation and I must commend Stallion Group for their desire to establish the manufacturing plant in Delta.
“By bringing them to Delta, we are bringing them closer to the South South and the South East because they have a lot of market share in the region.
“In the past 6 years, over one million jobs have been created within the corresponding period.
“The partnership will also entail the training and establishment of 2,000 mechanics among the Keke riders.
“With all of these efforts, we are committed to deepening our entrepreneurship programmes to create more jobs for our people,” Emu said.
On his part, Director-General, Delta State Investment Development Agency, DIDA, Chief Lucky Oghene-Omoru commended stakeholders for their commitment to the project.
He said that Delta remained peaceful with an enabling environment that guarantees massive returns on investments.
The Managing Director, Stallion Auto Keke Limited, Manish Rohtagi said they were partnering with Delta Government to establish the plant in Delta to provide better product at affordable price.
He said that Keke riders were important because they make their money daily and contributes to the economy of the nation.
He said that production would commence next week as soon as machines were shipped from Lagos.
Also, the State President of Keke Riders Association, Chief Obi Nzete commended the governor for having the interest of the Keke riders at heart.
Nzete said that the Keke riders would continue to reciprocate government’s kind gesture and pledged the support of the union to the venture.
He said a lot of youths who would have taken to crime and criminality have been engaged in keke transport thereby making them bread winners in their families.
The ceremony was attended by top government functionaries including Commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Tilije; Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, Commissioner for Youths Development, Ifeanyi Egwunyenga, among others.
