Caracas, December 3 (teleSUR-RHC)-- President Nicolas Maduro opened Venezuela's first Yutong bus plant ahead of the national assembly elections this weekend.

The plant, based in Yaracuy state in western Venezuela, has been manufacturing buses since October but the official opening ceremony took place on Wednesday.  Maduro toured the new factory, speaking with individual employees before addressing the whole plant.
  
During his speech, the head of state praised the “exceptional work done in the midst of the economic war” by the officials who concluded the deal with the Chinese manufacturer.  Maduro also praised “the most modern factory in Latin America" and its employees, saying that they “should be proud of being workers” aiding the development of the manufacturing industry in Venezuela.  

The new facility has eight assembling posts, two buildings, a parking lot and a test ramp for the buses after construction. The factory will manufacture three types of buses for Venezuela and Yutong's clients in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Speaking in August, Venezuelan minister of land transportation, Haiman El Troudi, said the factory is capable of assembling 3,500 buses per year and will generate over 1,000 jobs for local people.

Troudi confirmed that some of the plant's employees have been sent to China to receive further training on how to use the factory's machinery.