The United Nations General Assembly, in 1989, proclaimed 20 November as Africa Industrialization Day by the Resolution A/RES/44/237. Since then, the United Nations System has held events on that day throughout the world to raise awareness about the importance of Africa’s industrialization and the challenges faced by the continent.On 25 July 2016, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2016-2025 as the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA III). UNIDO was tasked with leading the implementation of the Decade, in collaboration with a range of partners. The vision for the implementation of IDDA III is to firmly anchor Africa on a path towards inclusive and sustainable industrial development.

Statement by the United Nations Secretary-General's 2020 on Africa Industrialization Day 2020, November 20th.

The COVID-19 crisis hit African economies well before the pandemic spread across the continent, with falling demand for African commodities and products, disruptions in trade and travel, reduced remittances and foreign investment, and vast job and income losses.

The pandemic arrived when prospects for the continent were promising. Economies were expanding and poverty was in decline. Technology and innovation were being embraced across the continent, and progress had been made in unity and economic integration. The entry into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area promised a strong boost in intra-African trade.

In working to realize the objectives of the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa, and by following the roadmaps laid out by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Africa’s Agenda 2063, the response to the COVID-19 crisis offers an opportunity to redress structural inequalities and vulnerabilities and promote transformative change for more resilient Africa.

On Africa Industrialization Day, I reaffirm the commitment of the United Nations system to support inclusive, resilient and sustainable industrial development in Africa.

Antonio Guterres, U.N. Secretar- General.

FORUM: “Inclusive and sustainable industrialisation in the AfCFTA era” Africa Industrialization Day 2020.

Industrial development is of critical importance for sustained and inclusive economic growth in African countries. Industry can enhance productivity, increase the capabilities of the workforce, and generate employment, by introducing new equipment and new techniques. Industrialization, with strong linkages to domestic economies, will help African countries achieve high growth rates, diversify their economies and reduce their exposure to external shocks. This will substantially contribute to poverty eradication through employment and wealth creation. Despite being the second most-populated continent in the world (1.2 billion people), Africa represented only 1.4 % of the world Manufacturing value added in the first quarter of 2020. While the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved more slowly in Sub-Saharan Africa than in other regions, it has exerted a sizable toll on economic activity with a growth expected to fall to -3.3% in 2020, pushing the region into its first recession in 25 years. The combination of domestic lockdowns and lower external demand from the global recession will weigh heavily on the industry sector.

EVENTS: African Economic Conference 2020

The theme of the 2020 African Economic Conference is “Africa beyond COVID-19: accelerating towards inclusive sustainable development”. At the conference, established academics and young researchers will be able to present their solution-oriented research to policymakers and decision-makers. The conference is jointly organized by African Development Bank (AfDB), the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and will be held on 8- 10 December 2020.

The Africa Industrialization Week 2020 (AIW), presents such an opportunity, to rally stakeholders at national, regional, continental, and global level to exchange knowledge on the continent’s structural transformation agenda.