CLOSE to 1000 jobs could be created at the FAW assembly plant in Coega in Port Elizabeth over the next 10 years.
FAW South Africa human resources manager Kobie Jacobs said at the moment FAW had about 100 job opportunities available.
The second phase of the FAW assembly plant, located in the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ), is expected to create more than 800 jobs over the next 10 years.
FAW invested R600-million in the truck assembly plant, the first phase of FAW's development in the Coega IDZ, which is expected to produce 5000 trucks annually.
The second phase is likely to see 30000 passenger cars assembled on site.
A total of 619 people were employed and eight SMMEs were involved in the construction phase of the truck assembly plant.
The first vehicles to be assembled in the new plant are expected to roll off the assembly line in July.
The Coega Development Corporation (CDC) has been spearheading the recruitment and selection process of FAW employees through its specialised unit for recruitment and placements, Coega Human Capital Solutions (HCS).
HCS recruitment unit head Duncan Grenfell said HCS had already recruited people, mainly from Nelson Mandela Bay, to work on the FAW South Africa production line.
HCS also runs several programmes to mitigate the gap between the skills demanded by investors and the skills supply in the region.
FAW would benefit from some of these technical skills development programmes, Grenfell said.
"Investors want to employ skilled workers – and HCS has taken on the role of not only recruiting these potential employees, but ensuring they have the requisite skills for the job at hand.
"This is achieved through various skills development initiatives, including artisan training in trades such as welding, assembly, and fitting and turning in the automotive industry.
"We offer solutions to investors so jobs are matched with skills," Grenfell said. - Business Reporter