Nairobi, Aug 2 (TIWN) The sixth edition of the Africa Tech Challenge (ATC) funded by Chinese firm AVIC International was launched on Thursday in Kenya, which aims to boost industrialisation in the African continent.

Kevit Desai, principal secretary of the State Department of Vocational and Technical Training in the Ministry of Education, told reporters in Nairobi that the regional youth competition seeks to promote skills development and catalyze Africa's industrial transformation.

This year's Africa Tech Challenge brings together teams from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire and Zambia, in Kenya to offer training in mechanical engineering and lathe machining, and winners will be awarded cash prizes as well as a manufacturing contract.

Desai said that the initiative will help to deliver high standards of material production and development that is central to improve industrial competitiveness.

He observed that ATC provides an opportunity for African nations to work with China, which is one of the most industrialized countries in the world.

The government official said that the contest which began in 2014 was initially undertaken in Kenya and has since been rolled out in other African countries.