Armored Vehicle Made by Gwangju Company to Be Exported to Africa

Kobico Co., Ltd. - Nigeria, Export Contract Worth 50 Billion KRW

Armored vehicles produced by an automobile specialist manufacturer in the Gwangju region will be exported to Africa.

On the 18th, according to Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Kang Gi-jung), Kobico Co., Ltd., a local automobile specialist manufacturer, signed an export contract worth approximately 50 billion KRW for 100 armored vehicles with Nigeria.

A commemorative ceremony celebrating this was held that morning at the Kobico Co., Ltd. main conference room in Pyeongdong Industrial Complex.

The ceremony was attended by Kang Gi-jung, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City; Suleiman Ibrahim Ayman, Nigerian Minister of Police; Abduyari Suayau Rafia, Head of the Nigerian Police Intelligence Department; Neonye Ferdinand, Nigerian Ambassador to Korea; Majidadi Bala Muaju Kontagora, CEO of AGED NETWORK; Kim Young-woo, CEO of Sanbelodena; and Cho Kwang-chul, CEO of Kobico Co., Ltd.

The wheeled armored vehicles being exported this time were developed through the technology development (R&D) of the "Eco-friendly Automobile Parts Cluster Project," a key initiative promoted by Gwangju City. It is especially meaningful as a successful case of commercialization through collaboration between companies and local governments.

Starting with this contract, Kobico Co., Ltd. plans to sequentially export and supply numerous armored vehicles to several countries including Nigeria, Indonesia, and Malaysia, which is expected to greatly contribute to the development of the local defense industry.

Kobico Co., Ltd. operates three factories including its headquarters in Gwangju, employs over 300 workers, and has sales reaching 185 billion KRW.

As a first-tier supplier to Kia and Hyundai Motors, it is a representative defense company in Gwangju specializing in the production of special purpose vehicles, military vehicle parts, and vehicle body assembly.

Additionally, in December last year, it was selected as a "Gwangju-type Job Leading Company," receiving certifications in appropriate wages, labor-management responsible management, and improvement of subcontracting relationships, and is emerging as a leading local company aiming for labor-management coexistence.

Mayor Kang Gi-jung of Gwangju said, "The armored vehicle (KMPV) being exported this time was developed through the 'Eco-friendly Car Parts Cluster Project,' which is a key project of Gwangju, making it even more meaningful. Gwangju is the second largest automobile city in Korea with an annual production capacity of 720,000 units, and Kobico, selected last year as a Gwangju-type Job Leading Company, has labor-management coexistence and corporate competitiveness, so I hope it will grow together as a good partner with Nigeria."

Meanwhile, in November, Gwangju City signed a business agreement for "Mutual Cooperation and Development for Future Car Promotion" with the Army Logistics Command and Gwangju Green Car Promotion Agency to foster the future car industry linked to the defense industry and support the vulnerable local defense industry.