NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 6 – The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has partnered with the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) to drive the sustainable development and growth of the automotive industry in Kenya.
This will be achieved by scaling up production, increasing trade, and driving the global competitiveness of Kenya’s automotive industry.
Speaking during the MoU signing ceremony, AAAM CEO, Dave Coffey predicted that with a progressive policy, Kenya’s automotive industry is set to increase its market share locally and regionally.
“The increased focus on building value chains and enhancing trade shall spur the demand for automotive industry products. An enabling business environment attracts investors, as seen in Morocco and South Africa, who have thriving automotive industries. Through this partnership, we shall collaborate to enhance scale, spur industrialization and deepen localization of goods manufactured by Kenya’s automotive industry,” said Coffey.
KAM Chief Operating Officer (COO) Tobias Alando expressed the Association’s optimism that the partnership shall give impetus to the automotive industry in the country.
“Kenya’s Automotive Industry is the most established in the region. However, it continues to face challenges, such as shortage of skilled labour force, low levels of research and development and lack of long-term financial solutions for the sector to enable investments in technology,” said Alando.
He noted that by collaborating with AAAM, KAM shall continue to develop automotive policies geared towards positioning Kenya as a production and trade hub, integrating EAC into the value chain and providing market linkages for sector players.
The MoU was signed during AAAM’s visit to Kenya, aimed at enabling participants to understand Kenya’s automotive industry and providing linkages with investors.
