The 20th November has been proclaimed “Africa Industrialization Day “since the 25th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1989.

Since 2018, the AU Africa Industrialization Day has been commemorated with a series of week-long events involving a wide range of stakeholders including African Member States, the private sector and industry experts, youth, international development partners; among others.

Due to the pandemic COVID-19, the 2020 Africa Industrialization Week is scheduled to take place from 16th to 20th November 2020. It will take place virtually and is commemorated through a series of webinars.

Why is industrialization pivotal for Africa’s sustainable development process?

1. Industrialization, with strong linkages to domestic economies, will help African countries to achieve high growth rates, diversify their economies and increase their resilience to shocks. This will substantially contribute to poverty reduction through increased employment and wealth creation; regional integration and local economic growth.
2. An accelerated industrialization process in Africa, therefore, will further cement the myriad ongoing efforts to achieve the Africa we want as stipulated by Agenda 2063;
3. Furthermore, advancing Africa-Industrialisation will enable critical conditions for Africa’s successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA), entered onto force on May 2019;
4. Increase the economic and social resilience of Member States  to thrive amid current and future shocks.

AUDA-NEPAD’s pivotal role in AIW 2020 and taking the Africa’s Industrialization forward

1. As the African Union Development Agency of the AU, AUDA-NEPAD is partnering with the organisers in the preparation for Africa Industrialization Week and all other relevant major events at all levels;
2. The Agency strongly advocates for an accelerated Africa-led industrialization process as a potential game changer to enable the continent to reach its full potential, foster economic growth, create jobs, and most importantly, empower our African youth and women;
3. By promoting multi-stakeholder coordinated actions across various sectors, AUDA-NEPAD is working to advance Africa’s industrialization and the implementation of the AFCFTA side-by-side with deliberate efforts to foster the enabling conducive environment at all levels and across sectors. This includes, inter alia, providing sustainable, resilient, and adequate infrastructure (i.e., energy, connectivity and ICT), more qualified human capital (i.e., capacity building, knowledge generation, training and R&D), improved business environment (i.e., legal, regulatory and policy framework), advanced continental expertise through enhanced cooperation with knowledge institutions (i.e.: Centres of Excellence, Research communities, Think Tanks etc.), and harmonised standards and conformity and environmental sustainability.

Upcoming events:

• November 16,2020: NEXUS between Industrialization and AFCFTA
• November 16,2020: RECs Meeting on Leveraging Regional Industrialisation strategies and Plans towards continent strategic policy framework
• November 17,2020: SME development in Africa’s industrial sector - Opportunities and Challenges
• November 18,2020The Contribution of Sustainable Blue Economy Development for Africa’s Industrialisation: Maximising the potential for an inclusive and resilient future
• November 19,2020: Partnerships Coordination for Africa’s Industrialisation

Follow the links below to register

Main sessions: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SB5rMTQXTeyfOWteaI13SQ

Parallel sessions: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VVYZR_yERxO5CXY18I5sXA