As if by coincidence the inaugural Africa Kaizen Award 2019 took place in Tunis, Tunisia just a week after the CAF Champions League had kicked off in Egypt. However, the Africa Kaizen Award 2019 was not a footballing masterpiece but rather a productivity competition that sought to recognise companies on the continent that had displayed significant productivity improvement through the implementation of the Kaizen concept.

The Africa Kaizen Award 2019 formed part of the Africa Kaizen Annual Conference 2019. Speaking at the opening of the Africa Kaizen Annual Conference 2019 on 24 June, Tunisia’s Minister of Industry and SMEs His Excellency Mr Slim Feriani said “Improving African companies’ capabilities is part of competitiveness and economic growth”. H.E Feraini said “90% of Tunisia’s exports are within the manufacturing sector”.