• AfriConnections is a dedicated platform at Automechanika Dubai connecting African buyers with global automotive aftermarket suppliers
  • Automechanika Dubai concludes today (Thursday, 11 December) at the Dubai World Trade Centre

Dubai, UAE: Africa is set to transform its fragmented automotive aftermarket into a unified, borderless economy, according to H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), who addressed international industry leaders at the Automechanika Academy during Automechanika Dubai 2025.

Africa's vehicle fleet has surpassed 50 million units, and the market for replacement parts, repair services, diagnostics, and tools is valued at over US$30 billion. While demand fundamentals are strong, market growth faces challenges due to uneven distribution networks, a shortage of skilled labour, and high logistics costs.

H.E. Mene, said: “A borderless aftermarket economy is a necessity for Africa. When fully integrated under the AfCFTA, it can support thousands of SMEs, generate skilled jobs and increase Africa's competitiveness. To make this vision a reality, a few priorities stand out. First, we have to harmonise our standards. Working with our partners, we are developing a common technical regulations and conformity assessment system, and second, deeper logistics and customs cooperation will be essential.”

He emphasised the recent completion of the AfCFTA rules of origin for the automotive sector, which have been ratified by 50 countries. Additionally, he mentioned new digital tools, including an electronic tariff book, a digital certificate of origin, and trade-enabling payment platforms. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to resolve long-standing transit bottlenecks, such as the AfCFTA single bond guarantee scheme, which is designed to replace multiple national transit bonds, making it easier and more cost-effective to move goods across the continent.

“The AfCFTA provides the framework, the African bank provides a US$1 billion financing commitment, and the OEMs contribute technology and global expertise. When we work together, I am confident that we can build a borderless aftermarket economy that is efficient, competitive and truly African,” he added.

H.E. Mene’s remarks set the stage for the dedicated AfriConnections initiative, held today on the final day of Automechanika Dubai. AfriConnections is designed to connect African buyers with global automotive suppliers.

The keynote, “Africa at the Heart of Opportunities”, was delivered by Themba Khumalo, Principal Advisor to the Secretary General, AfCFTA, who outlined the transformative impact of AfCFTA initiatives that reduce trade barriers and foster an integrated continental market.

The programme also featured insights from prominent African industry leaders, including Jackson Mutuku Wambua, Industrial Sectors Manager, Kenya Association of Manufacturers, who highlighted the practical realities of trade, regulation and logistics shaping UAE–Africa aftermarket flows, and Kojo Annobil, CEO, Ghana Automotive Development Centre, who outlined how regional coordination is strengthening Africa’s automotive systems and industrial capacity.

Reflecting on the impact of the discussions, Tommy Le, Show Manager, Automechanika Dubai, said: “Our partnership with the AfCFTA is fundamental to how we showcase Africa’s rapidly expanding automotive potential. Their work to integrate the continent’s multi-billion-dollar automotive aftermarket, through progressive trade reforms, digital tools, and the development of regional value chains, aligns directly with our mission at Automechanika Dubai.

“Africa continues to play an increasingly important role in the global automotive ecosystem, and this year’s AfriConnections dialogues underscored the scale of opportunity that deeper continental integration will unlock. By working closely with AfCFTA, we are creating a platform where industry stakeholders can better understand Africa’s evolving markets and build the partnerships needed to accelerate efficient, sustainable and connected trade across the region.”

Automechanika Dubai, the largest international trade exhibition for the automotive aftermarket in the Middle East and Africa, concludes today at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The exhibition is built around six key pillars: sustainability, electrification and digitalisation, innovation, training, recruitment, and safety.

The latest Automechanika Dubai news stories are available on the ‘Press Releases’ page.

About Automechanika Dubai

Automechanika Dubai is the largest international automotive aftermarket trade show in the Middle East and Africa. It is currently taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre and will conclude on 11 December 2025. Automechanika Dubai acts as the central trading link for markets that are difficult to reach connecting the wider Middle East, Africa, Asia and key CIS countries.

About Messe Frankfurt

The Messe Frankfurt Group is the world’s largest trade fair, congress and event organiser with its own exhibition grounds. With a workforce of some 2,500 people at its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main and in 29 subsidiaries, it organises events around the world. Group sales in financial year 2024 were € 775 million. We serve our customers’ business interests efficiently within the framework of our Fairs & Events, Locations and Services business fields. One of Messe Frankfurt’s key strengths is its powerful and closely knit global sales network, which covers around 180 countries in all regions of the world. Our comprehensive range of services – both onsite and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organising and running their events. We are using our digital expertise to develop new business models. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services.

Sustainability is a central pillar of our corporate strategy. Here, we strike a healthy balance between ecological and economic interests, social responsibility and diversity.

For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com/sustainability

With its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and the State of Hesse (40 percent).

For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com

*Preliminary figures 2024

About Messe Frankfurt Middle East

Messe Frankfurt Middle East’s portfolio of exhibitions includes: Automechanika Dubai, Automechanika Riyadh, Beautyworld Middle East, Beautyworld Saudi Arabia, Intersec, Intersec Saudi Arabia, Gifts & Lifestyle Middle East, Logimotion, Light + Intelligent Building Middle East and Paperworld Middle East. In the 2024/25 event season, Messe Frankfurt Middle East exhibitions combined featured 7,450 exhibitors from over 68 countries and attracted 249,500 visitors from 164 countries.

For more information, please visit our website.

James Lakie
james.lakie@shamalcomms.com
Sinan Hameed
sinan.hameed@uae.messefrankfurt.com
www.messefrankfurtme.com