POST
CONFERENCE REPORT ON AFRICAN AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY ALLIANCE (AAIA) HELD ON 18th
and 19th April, 2013, LUSAKA, ZAMBIA.
As
Expected Strong Support was given for the Pioneering Conference Targeted at the
Zambia Automotive Industry.
As
the automotive industry in Africa positions for growth, there is an urgent need
for a paradigm shift to survive amidst intense global competition. What are the
implications for the auto players in Africa, and how can we leverage ourselves
in a new direction that strengthens our competitiveness? Zambia is honored to
have hosted the first African Automotive Industry Alliance (AAIA) conference.
The Alliance is still at its embryonic stage which looked at this exploratory
meeting with the hope of Zambia becoming an affiliate.
First of its
kind, the AAIA 2013 Conference
promised to be a focal point in
Zambia’s
Motor Industry as the global motor industry trends were being introduced
to the local Industry. There was encouraging reception from local and
international industry players, Insurers, Bankers, Government, Auto
Dealers,
Repairers, equipment suppliers and the Trade Union. Support was strong, and
continues to flow in for this symbolic and long-overdue forum to discuss the
challenges faced by the Automotive Industry such as; increasing business from
the rapidly growing vehicle market and growth in Zambia and
Africa
at large.
Collision
Auto Africa Limited (CAAL) organized the event hosted by Mr. David C.Chankota,
Director General of Technical, Education Vocational and Entrepreneurship
Training Authority (TEVETA). As part of the conference program, an exclusive
VIP Cocktail Party which took place on the evening of 17th April
2013 whose guest of honor was Honorable Chris Yaluma, Minister of Transport,
Works Supply and Communications. The format of the Welcome Cocktail party was
small, light, interactive, broad, but unique. The cocktail provided one-on-one
and free –flowing discussions with the Minister, top government officials,
various captains of the industry from private and public sectors as the
Minister welcomed international delegates.
The
main event – the AAIA Conference – consisted of a conference and exhibitions that
was staged at the Hotel Intercontinental in Lusaka from 18th to 19th
April, 2013.
Apart
from South Africa and North African countries, there is no other notable and
organized motor industry alliance in Africa. As wise, the conference
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Africa”.
The conference
objectives were:
·
Provide a forum of sharing ideas and
discuss issues concerning the automotive industry in Africa.
·
Provide networking and educational opportunities
in the Automotive Industry in Africa.
·
To provide overview of the
AfricanAutomotive Industry and how it can be organized in Africa.
·
Provide a forum for the government and
other authorities tolearn andunderstand issues affecting automotive industry.
·
Discuss issues related to environment,
technology change, innovation in the global markets.
·
Provide an opportunity for consumers to
meet with car manufacturer representatives.
The
event had attracted sponsors, exhibitors and delegates from East Africa, South
Africa, South-East Asia the U.K and the United States of America. More
importantly, delegatessaw the participation of a large selection of local
stakeholders.
The
conference was expected to feature the Honorable Minister of Commerce, Trade
and Industryas the keynote speaker. He was to delivera speech on the global
overview of the automotive industry, highlighting the importance of the
industry in supporting the economy and employment creation.However, due to
other national commitment he could not make it.
Nevertheless
the government would be keen to see a creation of a motor industry programme
which will bring about standards in the motor industry, provide training and
skills including enterprise development that will support the government’s
objectives of creating wealth and employment.
The
Zambian government was seemingly aware that if the motor industry was
developed, it could take advantage of its regional economic groupings to
further provide with a bigger market in the COMESA, SADC and EAC.
The
VIP welcome cocktail party was graced by the Honorable ChrisYaluma, Ministerof
Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication.
The
Minister gave a strong statement in support of the AAIA initiative as he called
for organizing the Local Automotive industry in Zambia with the hope of
supporting the AAIA Objectives. As the Ministry which holds the largest
portfolio of Automobiles in the Country, he told the delegates
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that
he will keenly follow the proceeding of the conference including issues that
related to standards in the repair process.
Geoffrey
Bulayi of AAIA of Uganda, who delivered a speech on
opportunities and challenges in the automotive industry in Africa, and
the objectives of the AAIA. He encouraged various lagging automotive sectors to
form industry clusters to support the objectives of the AAIA if African
Countries were to take up opportunities as the automotive evolves in Africa.
Guest
Speaker, Ian Groat of South Africa who is Publisher of the Automotive
Refinisher magazine presented a talk on the new technology and
developments - the car design and outstripping at body shop level. He
also did a full overview of World trends and Insurance moves to much closer to
good repairs shops to increase a type of process partnership as a new way of
thinking in collision repair.
Collision
repair industry Scenario Planner, Derrick BwalyaMwango, gave insights on
the modern collision repair industry images emerging within the southern Africa
(SADC region).
Tim
Marshall, Consultant from TTI Global of U.Kcovered
all aspects of generic training / capacity building in the automotive
industry.
AndriesBekker,
a training consultant, talked about vehicle damage inspection, assessment
techniques and qualification.WhileDavid Chakonta, Director-General of TEVETA
gave a presentation onRecognition of Prior Learning (RPL) a training
initiative which TEVETA is working on, to recognize and certify experiential
learning to enable acceleration of training in the automotive sector as it
upgrades.
Dr.
Frik Botha, founder and developer of Deaf
Training that has been recognized by the Training Authority in South
Africa,shared with delegates on how physically challenged people could be given
an opportunity to participate in the skills development strategies in the
Automotive Industry.
The
famous, informaland vibrantPangananiYouth Association operating on the
streets in Lusaka,was on hand to present their view on possible solutions
to get the youth out ofPanganani Road and assist with the transition from
informal to formal sector in the automotive repair industry.
Competition
Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) as a consumer watchdog was
available to ensure that whatever plans are made, the consumer remains
protected. They also gave a talk on consumers and their rights in the
automotive industry.
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The
First National Bank (FNB)had also shown strong support in providing
financial literacy and soft loans to the development of the automotive
industry. As an established fact, many SMEs face the challenge of accessing
loans / financing to sufficiently equip their facilities. FNB is a well- known
and trusted brand in the financial industry and its successes linked to the
automotive industry are evident. As such their participation was to shed more
lightand practical examples on how they have supported the motor industry
programs in South Africa.
Dent
Doctor Group, a South African franchise with over
forty (40) collision repair centers gave a case study on employment
creation and enterprise development strategy they have employed in their
organization. They were shopping around for joint venture initiatives and
investment opportunities.
With
the rapid growth of the insurance market in Zambia where the collision repair
business is fast growing, insurers’ claim thatan estimated KR250 million, is
being generated annually in the repair sector alone in terms of motor
accident-damaged vehicles.
Leading
vehicle brands/distributors like Nissan CFAO, Toyota Zambia, Action
Auto, Pilatus Engineering,Southern Cross Motors, and Yeti Motors had
shown strong support to the conference.
Zambia Bureau of
Standards (ZABS), who has finalized the development of the
Collision
Repair Standards, gave a guideline on which standards are developed.The
Government is also made a strong statement in support of the standards with the
hope of bringing standardization and upgrading in the industry so as to make a
meaningful contribution to the economy.
It
was hoped that at the end of the conference a Zambian Motor Industry programme
would be ignited so as to formulate a body that will; be working to align the
local motor industry to international standards and trends; to sensitize the
local players on Government policies regarding the motor industry; represent
interests of the members of the motor industry with various Government and
industry bodies such as the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Zambia
Bureau of Standards, Zambia Environmental Management
Agency,
Road Transport and Safety Agency, etc. and also to serve as a single source of
information for consumer awareness as it ensures quality, standards and ethics
enforcement.
CAAL
was engaged to selectand lead a tour to attend the Automechanika Show
in Johannesburg, to compare notes or take a leaf from developed markets.Mechanism
will be formed to enable the sector make a scientific approach that will
provide meaningful support to the local economy and the COMESA region and add
value to AAIA.
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During
the conference delegates were able to visit the various and large number of
displays from Japan, South Africa, Zambia, United Kingdom which featured varied
repairing equipment, aimed at increasing efficiencies while reducing costs.
Way forward
CAAL
with the guidance from the Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry is to liaise
and work on the motor industry development program. They are expected to confer
with the developed markets for learning path ways.
TEVETA
committed to support the automotive industry using various skills intervention
strategies.
Insurance
Association of Zambia gave strong support of the collision repair standards
bearing in mind the relationship of the collision repair industry and insurers
to protect the consumer.
The
AAIA considered moving its secretariat to Lusaka when they have done sufficient
consultation with other members.
African Automotive Industry
Alliance (AAIA)
P.O.Box 29324 Kampala, Uganda. , Email :
africanautomotivei@yahoo.com , aidaug@yahoo.com , Tel : +256 772632211 , +256 794 632211, Bombo Road,
Nalubega
Complex – Kampala , Website: www.africanmotors.org
www.africanmotors.org
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