Manufacturing journalist TR Cutler recently reported on the variability of African economic forecasts. According to Cutler almost all African countries have industrialization as a goal in their respective National Development Plans. Read more in the August issue of Manufacturing Outlook magazine, a Jacket Media Co publication.
Manufacturing has been touted as the key to unlocking productive jobs, bigger export revenues, and sustainable development. In 2019, Africa’s industrial GDP expanded by 17% to $731 billion, with the value-added of manufacturing surging by 39%, according to the African Development Bank. The continent’s industrialization is geographically limited though, with around two-thirds of value-added manufacturing taking place in just five nations: South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, and Nigeria.
With the pandemic, a recession, and the war in Ukraine, there is concern that the window of opportunity for Africa to become a manufacturing hub is closing fast. This glower prognosis is not universally shared. Burundi for example is actively pursuing industrial jobs to achieve growth opportunities. Per its development blueprint known as Vision 2025, Burundi aims to build a competitive and diversified economy. Agricultural processing and value addition to coffee, cotton, and minerals are key features of the country’s plan to move into light manufacturing.
In East and West Africa, manufacturing could play a critical role in sustaining economic growth. The sustained injection of patient capital and rise of East Africa’s automotive industry is helping to expand opportunities for labor-intensive employment under a proven manufacturing-led growth model and will expand the fiscal space to gradually strengthen the foundation of macroeconomic stability.
Thomas R. Cutler authors more than 1000 feature articles annually regarding the manufacturing and industrial sectors, with emphasis on robotics, lean manufacturing, technology breakthroughs, and media coverage of the sector.
Cutler is the President and CEO of Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based, TR Cutler, Inc. , celebrating its nearly quarter century in business. Cutler is the founder of the 9000+ Manufacturing Media Consortium which includes more than 9000 journalists, editors, and economists writing about trends in manufacturing, industry, material handling, and process improvement.
Cutler has established special divisions including African manufacturing, LATAM/Colombian manufacturing, Gen Z workforce, and Food & Beverage, andIndustrial Coaching. Over 5200 industry leaders follow Cutler on Twitter daily at @ThomasRCutler. Contact Cutler at trcutler@trcutlerinc.com.
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