Africa Industrialization Day

A widening technology gap between developed and developing countries threatens to exclude the world’s poorest from the ongoing industrial revolution and a technology market projected to soar from USD 1.5 trillion in 2020 to USD 9.5 trillion by 2030. Advanced economies, which are at the forefront of developing and adopting these technologies, stand to gain the most from increased efficiency and productivity. In contrast, less developed countries risk falling further behind in technological progress and innovation, becoming ever more reliant on imports of technology-intensive products. Many LDCs still use analogue technologies for nearly 70% of their manufacturing processes which could potentially be digitalized. The United Nations High-Level Advisory Panel on AI notes that Data, computing power and talent are currently concentrated among a small number of private sector players in an even smaller number of countries. However, AI and digitalization also present inherent risks. Irrespo...

  Current trends* Integration into GVCs has long been understood as a potential pathway for industrial upgrading . By tapping into international production and trade networks, developing countries have been able to enhance their industrial capabilities , generate jobs and boost economic growth. However, successful integration has always relied on a range of factors, including domestic conditions and the broader International Trade System . As global supply chains rapidly evolve, driven by geopolitical, economic and environmental dynamics, developing countries now face new challenges and opportunities in securing their place in GVCs . A series of shocks to international trade flows in recent years has prompted many countries and firms to reassess their trade and production practices. The COVID-19 pandemic was a major catalyst, causing widespread disruptions in production, transportation and labour markets. Even as economies began to recover, supply chains continued to face ch...