Africa continues to pursue stronger industrial performance as structural constraints limit the continent’s ability to fully benefit from its economic potential. Africa’s industrial sector currently contributes an estimated 10.4 percent to continental GDP, with only 2 percent of global manufacturing output originating from the continent. Limited value addition, fragmented markets, infrastructure gaps, and uneven access to productive technology continue to slow progress. These conditions restrict job creation, weaken competitiveness, and reinforce dependence on raw commodity exports. 

It is in response to these longstanding challenges that the African Union Commission (AUC), UNIDO, and UNECA convened the Africa Industrialization Day Commemoration, held on the margins of the Africa Industrialization Week (AIW) in Kampala, Uganda. The event gathered high level participation from government agencies, private sector leaders, regional institutions, women processors, youth innovators, investors, researchers and media representatives from over 40 countries to examine Africa’s industrial performance and outline practical actions to accelerate structural transformation. 

 In her opening remarks, representation of the AUC, Director of Industry, Mineral, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (IMET), Ron Osman Omar, who spoke on behalf of H.E. Commissioner Francisca Tatchouop Belobe, the Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals (ETTIM), reiterated the continental priority of building inclusive and competitive industrial systems. She reflected the Commissioner's message that Africa’s resilience remains strong but is constrained by limited productive capacity, slow expansion of manufacturing, and persistent dependence on raw materials. She stressed the importance of stronger institutional cooperation, wider access to technology, and coordinated policy execution across regions. Full Speech Here:

The meeting featured the official opening by the President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, delivered through H.E. Vice President Major (Rtd) Jessica Alupo. In his statement, President Museveni traced Africa’s industrial trajectory, and he outlined the importance of value addition within Africa’s resource base: 

“Africa’s major exports are mainly agricultural products, minerals, and fuels. What is disturbing is that we export raw materials for value addition and import finished goods made from those same materials.”   Building on this point later in his speech, he emphasized the continental direction, stating that: “AU Agenda 2063 is clear; Africa must multiply efforts to shift from primary raw materials to value-added products.”

He further highlighted the opportunity created by an integrated African market: 

“The African continent alone has a population of 1.56 billion people as of November 2025. This is a viable market that can guarantee demand for large scale industries and give them viability.”  

The President called on institutions and Member States to align efforts toward building a future anchored in production, export orientation, regional integration, and innovation.  

The AIW which convened more than 450 delegates, including 250 Ugandan participants  

 presented five resolutions emerging from AIW 2025: 

• Increasing investments in industrial infrastructure such as industrial parks, energy, transport, ICT and cybersecurity 
• Providing patient and sustainable capital through Development Finance Institutions 
• Facilitating industrial research, innovations and entrepreneurship 
• Prioritizing skills development for industry competitiveness 
• Establishing Women Led Industrial Parks in African Union Members States

The Joint Statement issued by the AUC, UNIDO and UNECA reaffirmed Africa’s direction for the decade ahead, while stressing the centrality of implementing the AfCFTA. The partners stated: “Sustainable Industrialization should focus on shifting African economies from being primary commodity exporters to producers of value-added goods in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.”  Joint statement Here:

Technical sessions during the Week examined priority areas identified under Agenda 2063 and the upcoming Fourth Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA IV, 2026–2035). Experts assessed Africa’s industrial bottlenecks, the slow pace of market integration, and the need for systems that support cross-border production. Discussions highlighted that regional value chains create opportunities for specialization, coordinated investment and shared manufacturing capacity across Member States. 

Sessions also reviewed how quality infrastructure, skills development, industrial finance, and digital readiness influence competitiveness. Presentations from youth innovators and women processors demonstrated the growing potential for home-grown technology, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, textiles and renewable energy equipment. 

The dialogue reaffirmed the need for stronger policy alignment, wider financing access for industrial projects, and steady implementation of continental instruments such as the Pan African Quality Infrastructure (PAQI), the African Industrialization Fund, and the African Debt Monitoring Mechanism, which supports Member States in tracking financial exposure related to industrial investment. 

The AU Commission acknowledged the support of Member States, regional bodies, financial institutions, development agencies, and private sector partners who contributed to the Week’s outcomes. The Commission emphasized that Africa seeks progress grounded in fairness, partnership, and shared responsibility as the continent strengthens its industrial base. 

For further information, please contact:

Ms. Faith Adhiambo | Communication | Directorate of Information and Communication| African Union Commission | E-mail ochiengj@africanunion.org