Egypt and South Africa Discuss Boosting Cooperation in Automotive and Components Industry

Egypt's Minister of Industry, Khaled Hashem, met with South Africa's Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mabu Parks Tau, to discuss enhancing cooperation between the two countries in the automotive and components sector. The meeting aimed to build on the outcomes of the African Automotive Investment Forum recently hosted in Alamein.

Attracting New Investments in Automotive Industry

The Minister of Industry aims to attract automotive and feeder industry companies to manufacture in Egypt, to meet local market needs and open doors for exporting production abroad. Hashem noted that Egypt has taken steps to localize and deepen domestic manufacturing in auto components, while working to attract major global companies to inject new investments in this sector, especially in tires and electric vehicle batteries.

Cooperation in Vehicle Testing and Approvals

The minister explained that there are opportunities for cooperation between Egypt and South Africa in the field of vehicle and component testing and approvals, which would facilitate trade and enhance industrial integration between Egypt and African markets. This cooperation aligns with Egypt's direction to increase local manufacturing of auto components, and support the sector's ability to meet local market needs and expand exports to African markets.

Joint Platform for Manufacturing Auto Components

For his part, South Africa's Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition affirmed his country's keenness to enhance cooperation with Egypt in the automotive and components field, and explore opportunities for industrial partnerships between companies in both countries. He noted that the African Automotive Investment Forum hosted in Alamein witnessed the signing of several important agreements, including one between Egypt's Al-Arabi Group and South Africa's Malben Engineering to establish a joint industrial platform for manufacturing auto components.