CHENNAI: Chennai-based truckmaker Ashok Leyland has bagged its largest-ever contract in a deal with West-African country Cote DIvoire for supply of 3,600 trucks and buses. The deal has been valued at Rs 1,335 crore ($200 million). The vehicles will be delivered over the next one year.

Vinod Dasari, Managing Director, Ashok Leyland, said: "This is the largest contract for this country with any firm in India, and also represents the largest such contract till date for the Company. We look forward to building this as a base for further growth in West Africa."

The deal is pending final clearance from both governments.

Ashok Leyland executives have often spoken positively about opportunity in Africa.
The company's Chairman Dheeraj G Hinduja, while addressing the 66th Annual General Meeting, in July this year, had said the Ashok Leyland will strive for a global footprint, partly to hedge against the cyclical nature of the domestic market. The export volumes during 2014-15 was markedly higher at 11,218 units, up by 31.8%.

The company's plant in Ras Al Khaimah, one of the seven Emirates, has helped expand in West Asia and Africa. Gopal Srinivasan, the company's Chief Financial Officer, had said during the June quarter results that the company will set up bus assembly plants in Africa to build the local market.

Reacting to the development, the company's stock rose 3.67% on the BSE to Rs 97.5.