On 05 June 2026, Kenya’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Jane Ndurumo, accompanied Hon. Lee Kinyanjui, EGH, Cabinet Secretary for Investment, Trade and Industry, Ms. Regina Ombam, Principal Secretary for Trade, and other senior government officials on a strategic visit to the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) and the Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC) in Pretoria, South Africa.
The visit formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen economic cooperation between Kenya and South Africa while exploring opportunities for industrial development, investment promotion, and regional manufacturing integration.
Learning from South Africa’s Advanced Automotive Ecosystem
During the visit, the Kenyan delegation engaged with industry stakeholders and received detailed briefings on South Africa’s automotive manufacturing value chain, industrial development strategies, and investment facilitation frameworks.
The delegation gained valuable insights into how TASEZ and AIDC have contributed to the growth of South Africa’s automotive sector by attracting investment, supporting local manufacturing, creating jobs, and enhancing industrial competitiveness.
The visit also highlighted the critical role of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in fostering industrialisation, supporting exports, and developing globally competitive manufacturing industries.
Exploring New Areas of Cooperation
Kenya views the engagement as an important step towards expanding bilateral cooperation in strategic sectors that can drive economic growth and industrial transformation across the continent.
Potential areas of collaboration identified during the visit include:
- Automotive component manufacturing
- Vehicle assembly and production
- Industrial park and Special Economic Zone development
- Skills development and workforce training
- Technology and knowledge transfer
- Investment promotion and facilitation
- Regional manufacturing integration and value chain development
Advancing Africa’s Industrialisation Agenda
The visit underscored the shared commitment of Kenya and South Africa to advancing Africa’s industrialisation agenda through stronger partnerships, increased investment, and enhanced regional cooperation.
Kenya looks forward to continued engagement with South African institutions and industry leaders to explore mutually beneficial opportunities that support sustainable industrial growth, economic transformation, and the development of competitive regional manufacturing value chains.
As African economies seek to accelerate industrialisation and deepen intra-African trade, partnerships such as these remain critical in unlocking investment opportunities, creating jobs, and strengthening the continent’s global competitiveness.
