Africa Industrialization Day

  As the world marks Africa Industrialization Day on 20 November , UNIDO Director General, Gerd Müller reflects on the continent’s progress and the urgent investments needed to drive sustainable, competitive industrial growth. In this op-ed, he outlines why Africa stands at a defining moment—and what must happen next to unlock its full industrial potential. Africa enters 2025 at a pivotal moment in its development. The ambition to transform the continent’s economies through sustainable industrialization, regional integration, and innovation is clearer than ever, and is picking up pace. The foundations are being laid. Industrial strategies are expanding, regional integration is progressing, infrastructure projects are advancing, and a young, dynamic private sector powers local economies. Africa’s GDP growth remains among the highest globally, with more than 20 countries expected to have exceeded 5% growth in 2025. Manufacturing value added has increased in several sub-regions, and ...

   The energy transition offers unprecedented opportunities to advance green industrialization , foster inclusive growth , and build resilient economies . A just transition can drive innovation and sustainable industries in developing and emerging economies utilizing the increasing demand for minerals vital to clean technologies . Related Sites and Documents:  Global Industry Summit . Watch The transformative power of just energy transitions for industrial development! . 01:53:31 Meetings & Events

The Green Industrialization Hub supports developing countries in designing and implementing strategies to build local value chains for energy transition technologies that advance their energy transition, job creation and industrialization goals. Africa stands at the forefront of a new energy era. With growing global demand for renewables, the continent has the opportunity to build local value chains and industrial hubs that power innovation, green growth and jobs. Our new report , developed under our Green Industrialization Hub, outlines how G20 action can accelerate these efforts and align support with Africa’s priorities for a just and sustainable energy future . Read the full SEforALL report on Fostering Industrial Hubs for Energy Transition Technologies in Africa

  It is indisputable that human activity is inflicting significant harm on our planet’s ecosystem. Not only has the scientific community reached a strong consensus on this, but it is also reflected in The growing impacts of climate change and our unsustainable consumption of natural resources . We are now witnessing the consequences of these activities through extreme climate events, including heatwaves, wildfires, rising sea levels, and increasingly severe storms. Furthermore, the overexploitation of essential natural resources such as biomass, metals, non-metallic minerals and fossil fuels is contributing to deforestation, soil degradation, and the extinction of species. Addressing the consequences of human-induced environmental degradation , particularly in relation to climate change , has become the greatest challenge global society is facing today. This is of particular relevance given that developing countries, especially SIDS, which face heightened risks from rising sea le...

The energy and green transition is reshaping industrial development in two ways:  (i) changing how manufacturing industries source and use energy, and  (ii) fostering the emergence of new energy-generating industries, such as solar, hydrogen and biomass.  For manufacturing industries , this transition entails adopting clean energy sources , decarbonizing production processes , and embracing circular economy principles to remain competitive and sustainable. In a global market that increasingly prioritizes sustainability , industrial competitiveness will increasingly be tied to industry’s capacity to comply with environmental regulations . At the same time, energy-generating industries are undergoing a transformation. The rapid growth of renewable energy sectors —such as solar, hydrogen and wind —coupled with advancements in energy efficiency , is creating new competitive advantages for countries and firms that lead in these technologies. Leaders in renewableene...

  Developing countries that can effectively leverage renewable energy sources and green technologies will be better positioned to capitalize on the green transition , attracting investment and integrating more seamlessly into GVCs . The energy transition presents a unique opportunity for sustainable industrialization for LICs and LMICs. The emergence of new industries related to solar and wind energy, EVs, battery production, and innovative technologies such as hydrogen and advanced biofuels, offers these countries a pathway to integrate into Global Value Chains ( GVCs ). With  global investments in clean energy reaching USD 1.8 trillion in 2023 alone, developing countries can capitalize on their natural resources, such as minerals needed for green technologies , to secure a foothold in these high-growth sectors. However, they also face financial challenges, as only 15% of global renewable energy investments are directed towards these countries, with a paltry 2% alloc...