Overview
Africa is quietly emerging as a next-gen low-cost manufacturing hub, absorbing industrial overflow from Asia and benefitting from trade pacts like the AfCFTA.
Emerging Hubs
- Ethiopia (garments, leather)
- Nigeria (cement, food processing)
- Egypt and Morocco (automotive, aerospace)
Enablers
- Rising China costs
- African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
- Investment from Turkey, India, and China—not just the West
Challenges
- Infrastructure and energy reliability
- Political stability in certain regions
- Need for industrial policy continuity
Takeaway
Africa is not just a resource continent anymore—it’s poised to become a manufacturing partner for the 21st century.