By Aygul Salmanova

Ganja Automobile Plant (GAP), which ranks among majors of the automotive industry in Azerbaijan and Czech automobile company “Tatra” signed a memorandum at the embassy of the Czech.

Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Czech Republic Farid Shafiyev, representatives of the Azerbaijani-European Chamber of Commerce and the press attended the memorandum.

The Czech Republic said in a message that Azerbaijan will launch the production of Tatra trucks from 2018.

A memorandum was signed between Ganja Automobile Plant production association and Tatra company at the embassy of the Czech Republic in Azerbaijan.

The document was signed by head of Ganja Automobile Plant Khanlar Fatiyev and chairman of Tatra board Petr Rusek.

Speaking at the event, Shafiyev praised Tatra's entry into the industrial sector of Azerbaijan as a significant event and the Czech company's trusr in the Ganja automobile plant is praiseworthy.

The ambassador also said that the signing of the memorandum would contribute to the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan.

Starting in 2018, production of various models of Tatra trucks will begin in Azerbaijan, according to the agreement.

The foundation of the Ganja Automobile Plant was laid in 1986. The production capacity of the plant was calculated for the production of 30,000 vehicles of medium tonnage.

The construction of the plant was to be completed by the end of 1989, according to the project. However, as a result of the collapse of the USSR, the construction of the plant was stopped. Only after Azerbaijan gained independence, the government of the country took up the issue of continuing construction of the plant. And in December 2004 the Ganja Automobile Plant started its activity.

The plant currently assembles ‘Belarus’ tractors and MAZ, KAMAZ and ‘Ural’ cars.

Being located in Azerbaijan's second largest city Ganja Automobile Plant is capable of assembling up to 1,000 trucks and 2,000 tractors each year.

In addition to tractors and cars, the Plant manufactures various attachments for ‘Belarus’. The equipment manufactured at the enterprise is issued with a guarantee for one year, as well as its high-quality service in all regions of the country.

Azerbaijan, is currently working to develop its car manufacturing industry and encouraging interior purchases within the country.

The country now also plans to arrange assembly of tractors produced by the Chinese YTO Group Corporation, which is stipulated by the agreement signed between the Food Products' Procurement and Supply OJSC, the YTO Group Corporation and Aqrofun LLC.

Moreover, joint Azerbaijani-Iranian automobile plant, being built in the Neftchala Industrial District can produce buses.

The annual production capacity of the Azerbaijani-Iranian automobile factory Azermash OJSC, being built in Neftchala, will amount to 10,000 cars per year. Some 20 percent of the vehicles will be exported to CIS and Central Asian countries. The price of new cars will be 10,000-12,000 manats ($5,800-7,000), adding that the cars produced at the plant will meet Euro 5 standard.

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