Sahel’s development, stability to be achieved through industrialization — AU/UN experts
“The issue of inclusive industrialization in the Sahel is of prime importance” given the challenges the conflict-torn region is currently facing — this is the main message from an event this week that was held as a part of the African Union Summit in Niamey, Niger.
As part of the African Union Summit on Industrialization and Economic Diversification in Niamey, Niger, the side event focusing on inclusive and sustainable industrialization as a driver of resilience and stability for the Sahel was organized by the Government of Niger, the African Union (AU), and several United Nations bodies. The speakers aimed to present a new narrative for the Sahel based on the opportunities for youth and women offered by industrialization and economic diversification, to sensitize private and public sector participants on the potential of agribusiness activities in various value chains to further support resilience in the Sahel through growth and job creation, to create a better understanding by participants of the strategic investments needed to support agribusiness in the Sahel, and to present Niger’s industrial priorities and best practices.
“We tend to forget the youth and women. We cannot achieve industrialization or economic diversification if we do not include them in the industrialization value chains,“ said Niger’s Minister of Industry and Youth Entrepreneurship, Salamatou Gourouza. “The issue of inclusive industrialization in the Sahel is of prime importance,” Gourouza added.
ECA Acting Executive Secretary, Antonio Pedro, said that given the challenges the Sahel is facing, it is extremely important to invest in industrialization in order to change the narrative in this part of the continent, which today is synonymous with conflicts and humanitarian needs.
The Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel, Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, stressed the need to have a coalition of African industries, especially the private sector, small and medium enterprises and youth, as driving forces for industrialization in the Sahel and Africa in general.
