Africa's Richest Man to Purchase 10,000 Indonesian-made Rural Vehicles

A billionaire from Africa plans to purchase 10,000 Indonesian-made light pickup trucks, called the rural multipurpose mechanical tool (AMMDes), to be marketed in Nigeria, The Jakarta Post reported.

Putu Juli Ardika, the Indonesian Director of Maritime Industry, Transportation Equipment and Defense Equipment, the vehicles would be purchased by Aliko Dangote through his company, Dangote Group.

“Dangote Group is very interested in importing [the trucks] for its customers in Africa,” Putu said as quoted by kompas.com on Monday. Putu stated that Dangote was interested in the multipurpose vehicle for to its ability to carry water and cassava and seed processors.

“Dangote’s team will check three units as a sample to be brought to Africa at the end of January,” Putu said.

According to local Nigerian media New Telegraph, Dangote Group is a Nigerian-based enterprise that operates in fields such as cement, sugar and flour production. The company operates in Nigeria and other African countries such as Benin, Cameroon, Togo, Ghana, South Africa and Zambia.

With a net worth of $4.3 billion, Dangote is Africa’s richest man and one of the word’s 100 richest men according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.