CAR and U‑3ARC seal a strategic partnership to strengthen Africa’s refrigeration and air‑conditioning workforce
The Chinese Association of Refrigeration (CAR) and the Union of African Refrigeration and Air‑Conditioning Associations (U‑3ARC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Beijing on 8 April 2026, marking a new phase of technical cooperation between China and Africa in the refrigeration, air‑conditioning and related technologies sector.
The agreement focuses on training, standardization and the exchange of expertise. It could significantly expand opportunities for African technicians as demand for cold‑chain and climate‑control infrastructure continues to rise across the continent.
Training, standards and professional development
The MoU outlines several areas of collaboration:
- sharing technical information to support training programmes;
- cross‑participation of experts in conferences and professional events;
- cooperation on standards, technical codes and competency assessment systems;
- mutual dissemination of publications and sector‑related news.
For African technicians, the benefits are tangible: access to high‑level technical content, clearer certification pathways and improved recognition on regional and international markets.
A driver for innovation and the green transition
The agreement also opens the door to joint initiatives in innovation, particularly in energy efficiency, environmentally friendly refrigerants and solutions tailored to African contexts. With rapid urban growth and rising demand for cold‑chain systems, these areas could become key drivers of development for installers, maintenance professionals and trainers.
A long‑term cooperation framework
Both organisations commit to meeting at least once a year to review progress and identify new areas of collaboration.