Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, Moses Kuria, today held crucial meeting at the Association of Vehicle Assemblers of Kenya (AVA) plant in Mombasa with the Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers Association (KVMA).
The meeting aimed to review and strategize ongoing local automotive initiatives to bolster the automotive industry’s significance as a driver of wealth creation, employment, and technology transfer in Kenya.
One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the decision to progressively phase out imported passenger vehicles, a move intended to bolster the local automotive sector.
As part of this policy change, the industry targets a considerable increase in locally assembled vehicles from the current 11,000 units.
This is expected to pave the way for a significant boost in job creation within the automotive sector.
The meeting also highlighted other vital steps towards enhancing the sector, including the ongoing legal and regulatory reforms encompassing the Automotive Development Bill, KS 1515 Standard, and the development of an automotive sector policy.
The Cabinet Secretary also disclosed that preparations for a Presidential round-table on the automotive sector are underway.
The round-table, involving representatives from the Government, Kenya Auto Bazaar Association (KABA), and Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers Association (KVMA), aims to address and advance the growth prospects of the automotive industry in Kenya.
With prominent figures from the automotive sector, such as Adil Popat, Executive Chairman of Simba Corporation, Matt Lloyd, Managing Director of AVA, Rita Kavashe, CEO of Isuzu Motors East Africa, and Arvinder Reel, Managing Director of CFAO Motors, present at the meeting, the automotive sector in Kenya is poised for transformative growth through progressive policy changes and strategic collaborations.
