African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretary-general Wamkele Mene has said the automotive sector is at the heart of Africa’s industrialisation and can play a vital part in the global electric vehicle (EV) value chain once the trade regime is enacted. As of October, 44 of the 54 signatories, or 81.5%, to the AfCFTA have deposited their instruments of ratification. Only one African Union member country, Eritrea, has not signed the agreement.