Inclusive, sustainable industrialization urged in Sahel

ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) — Experts and policy makers attending a high-level meeting have underlined the importance of inclusive and sustainable industrialization as a driver of resilience and stability in Sahel countries in West Africa.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) organized the high-level meeting on the sidelines of the ongoing African Union (AU) Summit on Industrialization and Economic Diversification in Niger’s capital, Niamey, on 20-25 November. A statement released on Thursday.

Salamatou Gorouza, Minister of Industry and Youth Entrepreneurship of Niger, stressed the need to create inclusive industrialization by embracing youth and women. “We forget youth and women. We cannot achieve industrialization or economic diversification if we do not include them in industrialization value chains.”

Antonio Pedro, UNECA’s acting executive secretary, said eight of the 15 countries that make up the West African sub-region are in the Sahel region. Given the challenges the Sahel is facing, he added, it is imperative to invest in industrialization to change the narrative in this part of the continent, which today is synonymous with conflicts and human needs.

“Structural transformation is one of the major challenges for countries in the Sahel to achieve this, with industrialization as the main channel,” Pedro said. He also stressed the critical need to strengthen the industry sector as a driver of intra-African trade.

According to UNECA data, at the level of intra-African regional trade, it is estimated that the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area would reduce exports by 41 percent in agribusiness, about 40 percent in industry and services, and about 40 percent in energy/energy. will increase. 16 percent reduction in mining by 2045.

In West Africa, including the Sahel region, exports are expected to increase by 24 percent in industry, 23 percent in agribusiness and 11 percent in energy and mining.

The meeting was jointly organized by the AU, the UNECA Sub-Regional Office for West Africa, the Office of the Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.