By: Staff Writer
Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Abans Auto Company affiliated to the prestigious Abans Group headed by Rusi Pestonjee has taken a bold initiative in a situation of economic crisis to market the Hyundai Grand i10 car assembled in the country at its state-of-the-art factory in Seeduwa.
Hyundai Motor Company, the world’s sixth largest automobile manufacturer and a leader in future mobility has joined hands with Abans Auto, authorizing the reputed local automotive retailer to assemble and manufacture Hyundai automobiles and components under license in Sri Lanka.
The launching ceremony of the Hyundai Grand i10 car, assembled for the first time in Sri Lanka in collaboration with Hyundai Motor Company of Korea was held at the Colombo City Centre on Friday (10) under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremasinghe.
Addressing the gathering President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the belief the country’s economy would reinvigorate soon is confirmed by introducing such a brand new vehicle to the market at a critical moment such as this.
The positive confidence the foreign countries have placed in the country is obvious by introducing the locally assembled Hyundai Grand i10 vehicle to the market, he opined.
President Wickremesinghe further said that this was a huge step in the domestic vehicle assembling industry and vehicle spare parts manufacturing industry.
Assembling the Hyundai Grand i10 in Sri Lanka is a tribute to the firm determination of Mrs. Pestanjee, he disclosed, adding that he knew how she initiated this journey when the economy was opened up in 1977.
He reminded that there was an Abans Showroom on the fifth lane heading towards Galle Road at that time thanking her very much for having come this far from that point.
He expressed the hope that this step will be a good start for the arrival of other investors to Sri Lanka based on the cooperation between South Korea and Sri Lanka as well as the higher investment made by Korea here.
The introduction of this vehicle takes place at a time when Sri Lanka’s economy collapsed. But the initiation was taken with the belief that the economy of the country would recover.
Sri Lanka stepped into 2023 in the background of the complete collapse of the country’s economy last year. But now the country’s economy is recovering.
Accordingly, it has been possible to provide solutions to the shortage of fuel, LP gas, and essential goods. In the same way, we have solved many other problems as well.
The government has taken numerous steps to strengthen the country’s economy. It has been possible to reach an agreement with the IMF organization. Negotiations with the Paris Club, India, and China are currently underway. It is attempting to reconcile their differences.
As a consequence, there is no doubt that a group of consumers in the country will be able to purchase cars again in the months ahead and there will be more economic progress than today.
