How can African manufacturing achieve its full potential?

Worldwide, the future of manufacturing is uncertain. Thanks to emerging technologies such as mobile connectivity, artificial intelligence, next-generation robotics and 3D printing, supply chains and factory floors face transformations as significant as any since the last industrial revolution. The Fourth Industrial Revolution will feature new forms of collaboration that drive innovative value chains and business models that could leave traditional industrial patterns in the dust.

Influenced by these global manufacturing trends, Africa has its own challenges. In order to develop its economic infrastructure and to improve its balance of payments, local beneficiation of the continent’s natural resources and agricultural products is essential. The United Nations expects that Africa’s population will double to 2.5 billion people by 2050. The middle class is rising, indicating an increase in consumption. Moreover, the population growth indicates a dramatic need for employment.

Hence, Africa has no alternative but to develop a strong value-added manufacturing base. The continent, however, has a way to go. In 2014, 30% of China’s GDP came from manufacturing, according to the World Bank. By comparison, Nigeria’s share stood at just 9%, Kenya 12%, Zambia 8%.

Africa has ample opportunities to grow its manufacturing base in a broad range of industries. Local beneficiation of resources in oil and gas is one example. Moreover, the growth of the population will provide a boost for direct consumer industries such as food, agriculture and beverage, home and personal care, apparel, and even automotive. Other likely target sectors include secondary industries, such as building and infrastructure, due to further urbanization and the need for infrastructure investments.

The continent has, however, a number of challenges that need to be overcome. The key challenges are:

· The lack of productivity in its legacy industries. In many African countries, the advantage of relative low labour rates cannot be monetized due to very low levels of output per hour in comparison with other regions.

· A lack of scale, where individual countries often lack size/scale to build sizeable factories that can compete with import flows from Asia or even Europe.

· An insufficient skills base. Despite the vast numbers of young people, most of them have very limited education or training. Specifically, artisan skills and craftsmanship are insufficiently available at the right levels.

· An underperforming and under-capacitated, structural economic infrastructure in terms of energy, water management and logistical facilities (roads, rail, and ports).

To overcome the challenges, a number of pointed actions can create a step-change for manufacturing in Africa:

· Productivity should be improved by a mix of measures. The key is to increase innovation, the application of the latest technologies, and a focus on more value-add products. Furthermore, smart introduction of mechanization will be needed, combined with a significant effort in training and skills development.

· Increasing size and enabling more scale requires simplified border procedures and more open trade across the continent.

· Skills development requires not only education and training but also industry-wide collaboration and protocols to invest together in training. Virtual and mobile training techniques are needed to overcome distances and the lack of training infrastructure. Vocational training with a key focus on artisan skills is essential.

· Independent power production and co-generation initiatives, ideally by a cluster of industries, will increase power generation capacity and stabilize the supply.

Above all, it is important that African governments, business, labour unions and communities to work together to develop economic clusters. Companies that start on their own will have a hard battle to fight and need to have deep pockets to make all of the above happen. Organizing all stakeholders in the economy to develop industry clusters that provide for local demand and can compete in international markets will create the sustainable success the continent in longing for.

Africa has a massive opportunity. Multilateral collaboration across the continent and public-private partnerships locally will lead the continent on a path to success.

This article is part of our Africa series. You can read more here.

The World Economic Forum on Africa is taking place in Kigali, Rwanda from 11 to 13 May.