The Netherlands to help develop prototype Ghanaian vehicle
The Netherlands has offered to support the development of a prototype vehicle designed and manufactured by artisans of Suame Magazine in Kumasi.
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The vehicle, Smarti Turtle 1, which was showcased at an international exhibition and promotion in The Netherlands, caught the attention of the Dutch Government.
A robust vehicle meant for the African terrain, the Smarti Turtle 1 was built in March, 2013 by the artisans through a partnership initiative between the Suame Magazine Industrial Development Organisation (SMIDO) and a Dutch-based foundation, Aardschap Foundation.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Kumasi yesterday, the consultant to SMIDO, Mr Nyaaba-Aweeba Azongo, said following the exhibition, the Dutch government had concluded agreements with the SMIDO-Aardschap Foundation to sponsor the entire cost of testing the vehicle in The Netherlands.
The testing of vehicles is very expensive and is normally conducted for the giant auto-manufacturing companies because of the huge cost involved in the exercise.
“For the Dutch Government to undertake to absorb the cost of this very expensive exercise simply because they have been impressed with the concept of the Smarti Turtle 1 is an impressive outcome and a boost to Suame Magazine’s quest to manufacture a Ghanaian car model for the African market,” Mr Azongo said.
With the current arrangements with the Dutch Government, mechanics from the National Service for Vehicles (RDW) in The Netherlands are set to do a full test of the vehicle on the national test site in that country in August at the expense of the Dutch Government.
“The test will help establish whether there is the need to further improve the model vehicle so as to become acceptable internationally,” the consultant said.
In September, this year, the vehicle would be formally exhibited for promotional purposes and investment arrangements for its manufacture commercially.
Currently, SMIDO is in the process of securing a large tract of land at Kodie, near the Suame Magazine, where the manufacturing plant will be established.
Mr Azongo said investment arrangements were far advanced for the setting up of the plant.
He said that there had been a significant advance in their attempt to partner a car company in Kenya, Mobius Motors, for the mass production of Smarti Turtle 1 as an African brand.
The new President of SMIDO, Mr Sarpong Boateng, who doubles as the chairman of the Mechanical Association of Suame Magazine, appealed to the Ghana Government to facilitate the commercial production of the vehicle.
He suggested that budgetary allocation could be made in the government’s 2014 Budget to assist SMIDO to establish the Suame Magazine Automatics Technical Institute (SMATI), which was currently being branded at the international level by the vehicle.
By Kwame Asare Boadu/Ghana
