By:
Robert Kwaku Annor
The African Continental Free
Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat is shifting its focus towards investment,
production and employment in Africa’s automotive sector following the
conclusion of automotive Rules of Origin, Secretary-General H.E. Wamkele Mene
has said.
Speaking at the inaugural
Africa Automotive Investment Forum on the sidelines of the Alamein Africa
Business Forum in El Alamein, Egypt, Mene said “the focus now shifts from
establishing the rules to translating them into investment, production and
employment.”
He outlined priorities for
advancing the Strategy for the African American Automotive Association (AAAA)
Sector under the AfCFTA framework, including developing investment-ready
projects and competitive production locations, strengthening regional supplier
networks, deepening localisation and making regional automotive production
commercially viable.
Mene also stressed the
importance of connecting vehicle assembly with African producers of tyres,
glass, plastics, textiles, electronics, batteries and other components to
strengthen regional value chains.
He highlighted the need to
improve customs procedures, transit arrangements, standards and regulatory
alignment across African markets to facilitate automotive trade and production.
The Secretary-General
further pointed to opportunities to link Africa’s mineral resources with
greater processing, battery materials production, component manufacturing and
vehicle assembly on the continent, enabling Africa to retain a greater share of
production, technology and employment.
