With more than 1 billion inhabitants, the industrialization of African states is still struggling to prevail. Indeed, the African continent only contributes 1.1% in terms of manufacturing production at the international level. In addition, it is essentially based on a limited group of countries (Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and South Africa). Africa’s growth is mainly due to the role played by commodities and services. What then are the challenges that African states must face in order to achieve industrialization?

Blocking factors

The obstacles to the industrialization of Africa are many and multiple. They concern in particular: the absence of competitive prices on the international market, this reality is mainly due to very limited domestic markets.

Added to this factor is the absence of programs to promote industrialization, the weight of bureaucracy, the existence of the informal sector which occupies an important part in the economy (more than 77% at the Kenya and more than 73% in Rwanda, for example), political instability for certain countries (for example Zimbabwe, Côte d’Ivoire, etc.) without taking into account the pervasiveness of corruption.

In addition, many countries have an economy that relies only on raw materials (products from agriculture, mining, petroleum, etc.). This interdependence, contrary to popular belief, does not contribute to the implementation of industrial activities other than those related to raw materials.

In fact, more than 50% of manufactured goods, produced in Africa and exported abroad, come from natural resources. To achieve sustainable development, Africa must reverse this trend.

Areas for improvement to consider

Africa, in order to meet the challenge of industrialization, must turn to foreign direct investment as well as entrepreneurship. In addition, it is preferable to encourage investments from southern countries such as Brazil, India or China, already present on the continent.

Investors are already present in Africa, notably the Lafarge company, in East Africa and Cameroon, whose establishment contributes to the industrialization of the continent.

To guarantee the industrialization of the African continent, African States must put in place industrial policies favorable to the development of industrialization.

These measures must be in favor of innovation, capacity building, training, quality and entrepreneurship. In addition to these areas for improvement, it is also preferable to introduce measures to encourage companies to invest.

Among those to be implemented quickly: easy access to credit for companies in the process of being created or established for several years, economic policies based on supply and not demand, long-term political stability, regional integration with harmonization of trade regulations.

An industrialization scheme not to be reproduced

Many African countries have already launched industrialization after the colonial era. Unfortunately, it ended in failure.

There are several reasons for this phenomenon. Industrial policies implemented at that time favored large-scale projects associated with initiatives to limit imports. Morocco was home to many workshops for the assembly of automobiles.

Unfortunately, in the absence of technology transfers, the appearance of financial crises, of a debt ratio of African countries bordering 70% of their GDP, not counting the CFA currency weak against the euro, the African countries have failed to industrialize the continent.

Now, in the light of previous experiences, many African countries have become aware of the importance of implementing policies favorable to entrepreneurship as a factor of industrialization. This new dynamic should be seen as an example to follow.

Read also: https://www.afrikatech.com/fr/industry/les-pays-en-cours-dindustrialisation-en-afrique-lethiopie/

Similar article: https://www.jeuneafrique.com/476132/economie/les-defis-de-lindustrialisation-de-lafrique/

About The Author

CEO AfrikaTech

Comme beaucoup de personnes j’ai connu l’Afrique à travers des stéréotypes : l’Afrique est pauvre, il y a la guerre, famine… Je suis devenu entrepreneur pour briser ces clichés et participer à la construction du continent. J’ai lancé plusieurs entreprises dont Kareea (Formation et développement web), Tutorys (Plate-forme de e-learning), AfrikanFunding (Plate-forme de crowdfunding). Après un échec sur ma startup Tutorys, à cause d’une mauvaise exécution Business, un manque de réseau, pas de mentor, je suis parti 6 mois en immersion dans l’écosystème Tech au Sénégal. J’ai rencontré de nombreux entrepreneurs passionnés, talentueux et déterminés. A mon retour sur Paris je décide de raconter leur histoire en créant le média AfrikaTech. L'objectif est de soutenir les entrepreneurs qui se battent quotidiennement en Afrique en leur offrant la visibilité, les connaissances, le réseautage et les capitaux nécessaires pour réussir. L'Afrique de demain se construit aujourd'hui ensemble. Rejoignez-nous ! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boubacardiallo

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