Quang Nam (VNA) – Truong Hai AutoJSC (Thaco) inaugurated Thaco Mazda automobile manufacturing plant, the biggestand most modern Mazda factory in Southeast Asia, in the central province ofQuang Nam on March 25 in the presence of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

National Assembly Chairman Uong Chu Luu,Special Adviser to the Japanese Cabinet Isao Iijima, and leaders of a number ofministries, agencies and localities also attended the event.

PM Phuc gave an order to kick-start theconstruction of the 12 trillion VND (528 million USD) plant at an investmentpromotion conference in Quang Nam province in 2017.

After one year, the first phase of theproject was completed with half of the designed capacity of 100,000 units peryear.

Covering an area of 30.3ha at the Chu Lai Open Economic Zone, the plant isequipped with cutting-edge technologies, meeting global standards of Japan’sMazda Group.

Also on March 25, Thaco inaugurated theinternational shipping route linking Chu Lai and Japan, and welcomed the firstvessel transporting automobile spare parts and equipment from Japan’s Hiroshimaprefecture to the Chu Lai Port in order to serve Thaco Mazda factory’sproduction.

Tran Ba Duong, Thaco Chairman, said the groupplans to build another wharf and has invested 600 billion VND (USD) inexpanding the arterial road from the Chu Lai Port to Da Nang-Quang NgaiExpressway, and building a double-decker roundabout interchangebetween National Highway 1A, the North-South railway, and the arterial road.

PMPhuc said the event marks the development of not only Thaco but also Quang Namprovince.

Helauded cooperation between Mazda and Thaco over the past time, saying thecollaboration has contributed to the Vietnam-Japan relationship.

Vietnamencourages the development of the auto industry, he said, adding that theGovernment will devise policies to ensure equality between locally-made automobilesand imported ones.

Theleader asked Thaco to roll out a specific plan to operate the plant effectivelyand safely, meeting demands of both domestic and foreign markets.

Healso called on Japan’s Mazda Group to continue transfer technologies to Thaco,especially the production of components, and support the company in completingthe second phase of the project as scheduled. -VNA