KUALA LUMPUR: Proton Holdings Bhd has made a foray into the Kenyan market with its maiden export of the completely knocked down (CKD) kits of the Saga last Friday.
The national carmaker, in a statement on Friday, said the shipments involved a total of 30 units of the CKD Saga kits.
The vehicles would be assembled by Simba Corporation (Simba), a diversified conglomerate with a long history of sales and assembly experience in the automotive industry, Proton added.
Proton deputy chief executive officer Datuk Radzaif Mohamed said its decision to export the Saga in a CKD format was made following close consultation with its Kenyan partner, Simba.
Radzaif said aside from attracting lower taxes by being locally assembled, the CKD units would help spur development in Kenya's automotive manufacturing industry.
"While strengthening Proton's domestic position is critical to truly be acknowledged as an international car maker, we need to see our products in places as diverse as Bangkok, Islamabad, Cairo and now, Nairobi," he added.
He said Proton's export would also increase the value of trade between Malaysia and Kenya and help to contribute to the creation of jobs in the latter's automotive industry.
Kenyan high commissioner for Malaysia Francis N. Muhoro said the African country had established a "Look East" policy and was hopeful that more Malaysian companies to discover the investment opportunities there.
"Malaysia and Kenya share many similarities, from a colonial past to our efforts in developing our nations. Proton's entry in to the country is not just as an entry in to a market of 51 million people but it is also a gateway to a potential market of 1.3 billion inhabiting the African continent," he added.