Trade and Industrial Development in Africa

This book revisits the perennial challenge that scholars, economists, and
politicians have been grappling with since the 1960s. Development, in this
book, has been defined in a context that projects it as a multidimensional and
complex process which seeks to enhance the human, social, economic and
cultural welfare of the people. This book calls for a rethinking of trade and
industry for Africa's development. It uses data drawn from national
development plans and strategies, and trade and industry issues have been
prioritized at the continental level, in key policy documents. On the whole
Africa's industry and trade performance have been poor in spite of national,
regional, and continental plans. The contributors to this volume propose some
alternative strategies and policies which are necessary for trade and industry
to grow and to contribute to the wellbeing of Africa's people. It calls for a
developmental trade and industry policy which, fundamentally, must be people-
centred. African states should invest time, energy and resources to develop
policies which will take into consideration African realities.The different
contributors are aware that Africa has experienced strong economic growth in
the recent past but this growth has largely been due to a strong demand for
Africa's primary commodity exports. It has also been a result of increases in
productivity and domestic investment and remittances from Africans living in
the Diaspora. It is important to note that despite this unprecedented growth
performance, the impact of trade and industry on development has been limited.
The book arguesthat a structural transformation of Africa's economies is
inevitable if Africa is to achieve the shift from the dominant paradigm of
production and export of primary goods. The various contributors to this book
agree that there is need to rethink policy and strategy in order to achieve
industrial development in Africa. There is no unique solution or answer that
can fit all situations as African countries are not the same. While Africa can
draw lessons from other regions which have successfully industrialized, this
book argues that policies and strategies will have to be adapted to country-
specific situations and circumstances.