May 24 (SeeNews) - Romanian prime minister Dacian Ciolos said on Tuesday he is discussing with officials of U.S. car maker Ford the company's plans for further investment in production and research in Romania.
"I have invited Ford to think about the development and expansion of production with elements of innovative technology for clean and electric cars production," Ciolos said during a visit to the Ford headquarters in Detroit, adding that the government will give its full support to such an investment project.
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The prime minister also invited the U.S. car maker to get involved in vocational education in Romania, as the government is preparing the necessary institutional framework.
In March, Ford said it will spend up to 200 million euro ($224 million) to expand its plant in Craiova, in southern Romania, so as to start assembling the EcoSport small SUV model there.
Presently, EcoSport is produced in Ford's Indian plant in Chennai but as of the autumn of 2017 most of the production will be moved to Craiova, where the SUVs sold in Europe, excluding Russia, will be assembled. The Chennai plant will continue to build the EcoSport for domestic sales and for other markets around the world.
Ford entered the Romania in March 2008, when it wrapped up the acquisition of a 72.4% stake in Automobile Craiova, the sole owner of car maker and distributor Daewoo Automobile Romania. In 2012, the plant in Craiova launched production of the B-MAX model, which it sells only on the European market. Ford also produces EcoBoost 1.0 litre- and 1.5 litre-engines in Craiova.
($=0.8919 euro)
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