One of the largest Belgian manufacturer of buses, coaches, and trolleys Van Hool NV will build manufacturing plant in Technological Industrial Development Zones (TIDZ) Skopje 2 aimed at realising the important US order of 300 buses, which has won at the beginning of January.

After carrying out detailed feasibility study the company’s management confirmed that location in Macedonia meets all necessary conditions for realisation of this large order.

Van Hool NV has won two orders from ABC, its American distributor, for the production and delivery of a total of 510 buses. Specifically, the two orders are for 300 “low-cost” vehicles and 210 coaches In order to manufacture these 300 “low-cost” vehicles the company has approved a large investment project involving the establishment of a foreign manufacturing plant. Manufacture of this type of product in Belgium is impossible due to the much higher labour costs. As a result of this investment project abroad Van Hool has also won a second American order, this time for the manufacture of 210 coaches in Belgium.

Filip Van Hool, Van Hool’s Executive Director, said that they have found the exact conditions needed for build manufacturing plant in Macedonia and plans to build 300 “low-cost” vehicles over a period of three years.

- Without the investments in a new manufacturing plant abroad Van Hool would never have won this order, for additional 210 coaches, which would be manufactured in Belgium. This project with certainty strengthens the international dimension of the company, Van Hool said.

Minister of Foreign Investment Vele Samak said that coaches will again be exported mainly on American market by this important investment in Macedonia.

- Van Hool’s decision, company that we work with since 2009, represents an exceptional pride for us because it is a project for manufacturing final products. Company plans to invest €20 million and to employ 400 people as well as to engage numerous home partners for different parts of coaches. They plan to start to build the manufacturing plant in April-May 2012 because they have signed an agreement for bus delivery in 2013, Samak said.

Van Hool is a Belgian independent bus, coach and industrial vehicle manufacturer. The company, established in 1947, is based in Koningshooikt. The vast majority of the vehicles produced are destined for Europe and America. Van Hool employs more than 4,000 people worldwide, most of whom work in the manufacturing plants in Koningshooikt and Bree.