A Turkish automobile manufacturing company, Ozaltin Ozmaktas Automotive, is to establish an assembly plant in Kumasi. Land has already been acquired for the 16 million-dollar plant, which would employ about 600 workers when production begins this year and 2,000 workers within the next two years.

Mr Edip Ozaltin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, announced this when he paid a courtesy call on President John Agyekum Kufuor at the Castle, Osu, on Friday.

Mr Ozaltin said the viable economic environment in Ghana was the basis for the establishment of the company, which uses modern technology in its operations and would export their vehicles to other African countries.

"Africa has a big market for our products in future and we see Ghana as our home," he added. Mr Ozaltin said seven Turkish personnel made up of engineers and administrators who would form the core of the expatriates in the Kumasi plant were expected in the country soon for commencement of work before the end of the year.

President Kufuor said the government was operating a liberal economy, which would encourage investors to partner their Ghanaian counterparts to establish enterprises for the youth and other skilled personnel.

He pledged government's support for the company to contribute to the country's programme as a gateway to the African market. Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Minister of Trade and Industry, said the plant would assemble light trucks, pick-ups, mini buses and agricultural machinery such as tractors and ploughs.

He said the company also had interest in the manufacturing of household appliances, construction of office buildings, hotels, shopping malls and an area had been identified in Accra to put up a hotel and shopping mall.

The company based in Adana, Turkey, began with the buying and selling of electrical household appliances and vehicles in 1952. In 1970 it began with the exportation of vehicles and its current light commercial vehicles factory began production in 1999.