Theme 3: Industrialisation Made In Africa through Regional Value Chains

ven, 24 Fév 2017 - 17:30

The continent has the key elements to drive and support a robust strategy to leverage on domestic resources that are essential in making trade and industrialisation key drivers of the transformation of the African continent. The primary objective is to give an opportunity to all Africans to participate in the Agenda 2063 outcomes, so that African growth is not classified as fragile because jobs and commodities don’t contribute to transformation but simply generate a disenchanted youth and fluctuating revenue streams.

The mobilisation of African domestic resources at national, regional and continental levels is the cornerstone of the implementation of Agenda 2063. African countries will not be able to exploit the full benefits associated with intraregional trade until they eliminate barriers to the movement of goods and people within their own borders. Massive investment in critical infrastructure is essential to encourage growth, unlock productive capacity in young Africans’ small businesses and induce structural transformation. This will encourage an export supply response in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and mining. Furthermore, growth corridors and regional hubs can be useful strategies for spurring economic activities and inspiring diversification.

National and regional industrialisation strategies should focus on transforming agricultural products into manufactured goods and the provision of high-technology services at competitive prices to enhance the potential for trade within Africa. Production sharing, cross-border input supply and conditional incentives for exports can foster the development of local and regional value chains and strengthen export competitiveness. Certain products such as bananas, sweet potatoes and sugarcane could be processed, properly packaged and traded intra-continentally. Regional value chains should be developed for products such as textiles and clothing.

Document

Theme 3: Industrialisation Made In Africa through Regional Value Chains (EN)

Reference

2017 African Economic Platform, Mauritius

AEP