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(MENAFN – Caribbean News Global)
A worker repairs a wheel on a giant transport truck at a uranium mine in Namibia. World Bank / John Hogg
NEW YORK, USA – The COVID-19 crisis was affecting Africa “ long before the pandemic spread across the continent, ” the UN chief said on Friday, on the occasion of the Day of the Industrialization of Africa, reaching a point where many economies were expanding and declining. ‘
“Technology and innovation are being adopted across the continent and progress has been made in economic unity and integration,” added Secretary General António Guterres.
Furthermore, the entry into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area promised “a strong boost” in trade between nations.
A surprising reversal
However, the protracted pandemic has taken a considerable toll on economic activity and has led the region into its first recession in 25 years, according to UN figures.
There has been a drop in demand for African raw materials and products, disruptions to trade and travel, reduced remittances and foreign investment, and major loss of jobs and income.
And the combination of internal lockdowns and lower external demand due to the global recession will weigh heavily on the industrial sector.
A ‘more resilient’ continent
Working to achieve the objectives of the Third Decade of Industrial Development for Africa, which runs from 2016 to 2025, and following the roadmaps established by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 2063 Agenda for Africa, Guterres said: ‘the response to COVID The 1919 crisis offers an opportunity to correct structural inequalities and vulnerabilities and promote transformative change for a more resilient Africa. ‘
Industry can improve productivity, increase the capabilities of the workforce, and create employment through the introduction of new equipment and new techniques.
And with strong links to national economies, industrialization will help African countries achieve high growth rates, diversify their economies, and reduce their exposure to external shocks.
“On Africa Industrialization Day, I reaffirm the commitment of the United Nations system to support inclusive, resilient and sustainable industrial development in Africa,” he said.
A supporting choir
“All farmers must have access to innovation and digital resources to transform agri-food systems and achieve rural development,” said QU Dongyu, head of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). ‘Let us cultivate, nurture and sustain, together for modern and sustainable African agriculture!’
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) tweeted that “ industrialization helps African countries achieve high growth rates, diversify economies and reduce exposure to external shocks, such as COVID19, ” pledging its commitment. with the third decade of industrial development and Agenda 2063.
The General Assembly proclaimed November 20 as Africa’s Industrialization Day in 1989. Since then, the UN has organized global events on that day to raise awareness of the importance of Africa’s industrialization and the challenges facing the continent.
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