JAGUAR Land Rover is set to invest about US$5 million in the construction of its plant in Zambia, head of importer network for Sub-Sahara Africa Matthew Creese has said.
Mr Creese said in an interview in Lusaka that the company realized that Zambia was an important market for Jaguar Land Rover in the Sub-Saharan Africa and that was the more reason the company appointed it new importer and opened temporal facility.
He said that the company had acquired some land on the Great East Road near the Mwanawasa General Hospital in Lusaka where the facility would be built by the end of 2014.
“We feel that Zambia is an important market for us in the Sub-Sahara Africa and this is why we appointed the new importer last year and opened this temporal facility in May, because it was important that we service Zambians,” Mr Creese said.
He said the drawings had already been approved and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report was also ready, adding that Jaguar was expected to break ground in the next six weeks.
“Towards the end of 2014 we will open our brand new facility along Great East Road near Mwanawasa General Hospital. Once opened it will be the most advanced facility in Africa and the World at large,” he said.
Mr Creese said the company chose to come to Zambia because it was an upcoming market for Jaguar.
He said the company was not just interested in doing business in Zambia but that it was also interested in training Zambian people in handling its facilities.
Mr Creese noted that there was potential for growth on Zambian market and the firm had realised that the country’s economy was growing rapidly.
“We are also pleased because the business environment in Zambia is a great market in which to develop,” he said.
He commended the Government for the support it had continued to render to the company in terms of its developing efforts in the country.
NOW WE ARE TALKING! This is the only way to go, put our people to work via industry, more of this is exactly what Zambia and Africa needs…massive thanks to the movers of this initiative…
This is exactly what we mean when we say “investors” and not “infestors” !
5million, what plant……? please… People like Dojo Do thinks this is development. wake from your slumber or rather slums
Could someone explain to me what is a construction plant is? Or did the editor mean Jaguar intend to construct a car manufacturing plant in Zambia?
Negative people commenting and who think they know better English than the editor, read from Global Times link here below:
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/815920.shtml#.UlLNwVBpnG0
Some Zambian! Way too negative. Probably because they are jealous that others are thinking big and expanding business, only the positive ones are seeing potential in places full of negative people. We need Zambians to come up with companies as well not just busy condemning positive change. International Thinking Systems (ITS) Real things are happening on the ground. Him that has eyes will see opportunities where other can’t see nothing, we see positivity everywhere, every problem can be converted into a positive outcome therez no harm in doing than as much as there is in doing nothing but talk…
whats a construction plant? im very confused. 5million dollars? this sounds like a vehicle distribution/sales center guys. hehehe. Mr creese, trade route for more direct path! dont mislead zambians.
Lombe, it appears u ve no feel of $5m and what it can do!
asrite
AL, you’ve reminded of somebody so dear to me. asrite…. ” thats right” i guess.
You wonder why on the other British Airways are running away, what with visas all the way to RSA. Business world can be difficult to understand.
there are less and less people travelling to UK from african countries now because of their toughened visa acquisition procedures. this has seen in a massive drop in ticket sales for british airways’ direct flights from many african countries. their government’s policy is to reduce numbers of africans travelling to that country to almost zero (0). they think we go to visit their country in the hope of illegally staying there when we have businesses here and we actually take forex that side. they are shooting themselves in the foot!
more and more of us african graduates are realising we need to stay on our continent and develop it. we will never go to their lands. we would only want to visit their places as tourists that’s all.
@ Floyd Chitalu
why such negativity towards your motherland? you might not appreciate anything in ZED, but surely at a minimum, we should want good and prosperity for all in Zambia and above all, we need to be proud of our country, despite the many places we may be found.
US $ 5 Million?
Was also wondering about that figure !!! That seems like a drop in the ocean for building of a full fledged motor vehicle manufacturing plant !! Can you please check the figure, LT???
It is a Landrover showroom. Please read between the lines. By the way when Africa has made a success of itself and not drowning in Lampedusa attempting to emigrate, that is when the British will be knocking at your door to offer you a visa and not before.
Construction plant or an assembly plant? Are they investing $5m in contruction of a contruction plant? Zambian journalism leaves much to be desired.
You are right. I was also wondering whether Jaguar has now gone into construction of buildings.
Very right……Mis leading head line. What kind of journalism is this?
Even for an assembly plant, $5m is peanuts. There are alot of contradictions and uncertainities in this article.
Trick stars , give them land and u never see that project take off.
We have been here before….LandRover used to assemble in Ndola,without much success !
And now they hope it will be better,ha,ha,ha
What a load of rubbish: how can you build the most advanced assembly plant in Africa and the world with only $5-million. Zambian journalists just report from handed out copies of speeches without questioning. The truth is that what Jaguar-Land Rover will be building is a large show-room and service centre to serve the whole country. They have seen that Pilatus Engineering has been making money.
PLEASE Zambian reporters you must try to report critically at times. Zambian journalism standards are among the worst in Africa, and for sure they are the worst in Eastern and Southern Africa, just pick up a newspaper from any of these countries and check the high standards of reporting and writing of stories. Pathetic…
Trying to counter the chinese? $5M for a such a project is peanuts? Are they planning to construct a mini-show room or what? Crooks indeed. They have been in northen rhodesia and zambia for over a century? What do they have to show for their presence, other than looting of copper proceeds to build harare? They can go hang with their so-called investment.
Atleast ukucila ifyabupuba lyonse Kabwamba this Fack that. all the time mu pa ma reports ati news.
Is this why Edward was here?
I have no problems with this coz it will add to jobs and there will be no capital flight coz it will their materials coming over and we will tax them.
I think the journalist meant a showroom and maintenance bay, similar to what Toyota has done opposite Parliament Motel!!!
Conter check the amount involved and the location. I can not see any space near Mwanawasa Hospital where someone can set up a Motor Vehicle Construction site.
May be a show room. But where exactly?
LT ar not good were rporting is concerned.
We thank God for this project the word of God says we should not despise a small beginning its not about the figure but what has been planned.This confirms PF has done well the opposition has been beaten jealous down and weldone HE Sata
Zambia used to have an assembly plant for Land rover before in Ndola. That is where the famous Land Rover 110 used to get assembled.
Whats this? A construction plant? An assembly plant? A garage? A showroom?
Am sure they meant a garage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The statement says and I quote “We feel that Zambia is an important market for us in the Sub-Sahara Africa and this is why we appointed the new importer last year and opened this temporal facility in May, because it was important that we service Zambians,” Mr Creese said.
Key words “we appointed a new importer”. They are talking about importing assembled vehicles not an assembly plant.
Its a show room!!!
Very funny..LT enough with the jokes. What are they going to be constructing..wiper blades for Range Rovers??
I too think that the amount is rather little for it to be called MAJOR plant…if am not mistaken kaunda’s house was built at USD1.5 million …
These guys are only talking about constructing a plant, and facilities. Maybe its just bad journalism, but from this article I have no idea what this plant will be doing.
have you guys done serious research and feasibility? Zambia having a good market for jaguars? how many people are going to buy jaguars? you will be selling 3 per year. unless you are talking of catering for the whole SADC region guys
I thought LR left us?
This is a sales office, just look at the figure before you start jumping about. its only $5 million, just enought to build a sales office like that of Toyota at kabwe round about.
Construction plant costing $5 Million, Mmmmm me donno, not an expert but that doesn’t sound like much, one has to budget for land, building a structure, machinery, etc. $5 Million sounds like cost of building a luxury home for the well to do.
ah chaps this is show room how can one build a factory near a hospital doesn’t make sense y unless the zoning officials are sleeping where by the project would canceled for health and safety reasons in due time
Mwebantu bakwalesa, for US$5million, this “plant” is actually a service centre and show room, much like the new Toyota Service centre on Nangwenya road in Lusaka. Hope that helps the debate.
Good observation. This is one reason that has made Africa not to develop because we get excited to easily even if we have not touched the fruits. What this means is that Zambia will have a building in which a British Co. will bring it’s finished product and sell it to whoever can afford it. The good side is that there will be some jobs created when sales reps are employed and perhaps “service mechanics” if the Co. has not already negotiated to bring their own “mechanics”in the name of experts. The down side is that unless the Govt. works out a proper system to collect the revenue it may end up only a profit venture for the owners of the Co. and not the Zambian Govt. Being cautious is not the same as being negative.
People don’t forget that Jaguar Landrover is now an INDIAN owned Company!!