Ministers and automobile sector leaders discussed how Africa can become a car-making powerhouse at the #IATF2023’s Automobile Forum, facilitated by CNN Correspondent Eleni Giokos.

Ms. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade Bank (IATB), expressed optimism about Africa’s growing automotive capacity.

The African Association of Automobile Manufacturers (AAAM) Vice President, Ahmed Fikri Abdel Wahab, highlighted the importance of government support in the automotive industry’s global outreach.

Fikri emphasizes the journey of building value chains, stating it takes decades and began in Egypt in September 2021, taking almost two years.

“After three years of very serious and hard work to develop this consultation, it was the fractures of consultation with trade agreements,” he said.

He extended an invitation to African nations to benefit from Egypt’s experience.

African Automotive Forum kicked off earlier on Saturday at the third edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair, IATF2023. The forum takes place for two days, November 11 and 12.