NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 27 – Investment, Trade, and Industry Cabinet Secretary (CS) Rebecca Miano has said that the government will work with players in the automotive sector to realise its full potential.
Speaking while touring the Toyota Manufacturing Plant in Nagoya, Japan, Miano urged the automaker to scale up its operations in Kenya to impart automotive skills to local youths.
“I have noted that so much goes into the manufacture of automobiles, and I encourage you to roll out more of such operations to our local level,” Miano said.
“This will culminate in the transfer of requisite technology to our youthful population amongst other benefits,” she added.
The CS implored Toyota to increase its local assembly and manufacturing in the country, adding that it will absorb thousands of Kenyan young people into the industry.
She gave an example of a recently opened Toyota Fortuner Assembly Plant in Mombasa that was inaugurated by President William Ruto in July.
Through the National Automotive Policy, the country is slowly embracing locally assembled vehicles while phasing out the importation of user cars, the CS stressed.
Her tour took place on the sidelines of the G7 Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Sakai, Osaka, Japan, where Kenya happens to be the only African country invited.
