Rebecca Miano, the Cabinet Secretary for Trade and Investment, has urged Toyota Tsusho, a Japan-based corporation, to increase the production of spare parts in Kenya. This comes after the CS signed agreements with the Japanese vehicle manufacturer to expand local markets. Miano challenged the firm to take advantage of Kenya’s strategic partnerships to boost the local manufacturing of components for the company’s assembling facility in Kenya.
”It is an opportune time that the Japanese conglomerate worked with Kenyan counterparts to develop the requisite capacity for the Kenyan-based facility’s enhanced operations, targeting the greater African Market under the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), among other markets.,” The CS said.
During the G7 Session of Trade Ministers in Sakai, Osaka, Japan, the Chief Secretary (CS) held a meeting with the top management of Toyota Tsusho Corporation. The CS and automotive industry stakeholders agreed to a National Automotive policy aimed at making Kenya the preferred destination for the industry. However, Toyota Tsusho management highlighted emerging industry trends and recommended that the development of the automotive bill and its regulations be done in close consultation with industry stakeholders.
The meeting noted with encouragement that Kenya has made milestones as an automotive assembly hub for the African region, supported by well-skilled manpower and the availability of assembling facilities.
It was resolved that the Corporation continue to work with the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry to further its business interests in the African region and for the mutual benefit of the people of Kenya and Japan.
The meeting resolved that the finalization of the automotive bill and automotive regulations will be expedited in collaboration with the Industry stakeholders.
The bill and regulations will provide for End of Life Vehicle (ELV)recycling for both used cars and batteries, thus helping to raid the country of an otherwise growing menace of waste.
Currently, it is estimated that over 70,000 vehicles are lying in junkyards after coming to the end of their useful life.
The meeting resolved End of Life Vehicle (ELV)recycling should go hand in hand with a reduction in the age of second-hand vehicles to be allowed into Kenya, which in turn is anticipated to drive up demand for new vehicles and hence support local assembling with an attendant increase in job creation.