As of 2023, Africa accounted for just 2% of global manufacturing value added (MVA) — a decline from 3% in 1970. This reflects a relative deindustrialisation of the continent, despite rapid demographic growth and urbanisation. Africa’s modest industrial performance is striking given its abundant natural resources and significant potential to attract investment.
Industrialisation is critical to driving economic growth, creating jobs, and strengthening the autonomy of African nations. However, the path to industrial transformation is obstructed by several persistent challenges: weak political vision, political instability, small domestic markets, limited access to finance, and underdeveloped human capital. Added to this are structural barriers such as poor infrastructure, high production costs, and limited integration into global value chains — with many African countries still exporting raw, unprocessed materials.
Initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) were launched to address these barriers by boosting intra-African trade and attracting investment. Complementary measures at the regional level have also emerged, including efforts to improve infrastructure, build human capital, and increase access to finance — all aimed at increasing Africa’s share of global industrial output.
These efforts are aligned with Agenda 2063, the African Union’s long-term development vision, which sets an ambitious target: raise intra-African trade to 50% and grow Africa’s share in global trade from 2% to 12% by 2045 — thereby enabling the rise of globally competitive African enterprises across sectors.
But investment alone is not enough. Real transformation requires a mastery of information — and that’s where competitive intelligence (CI) plays a crucial role. Strategic information management is essential to guide decision-making, protect industrial assets, and position African countries within a rapidly evolving and highly competitive global economy.
In this context, competitive intelligence becomes a key strategic tool to support and safeguard the continent’s industrialisation journey across three core pillars:
- Influence as a Lever for Sovereignty
Across Africa, calls for sovereignty are growing louder. They reflect a shared desire among African populations to take ownership of their future. Competitive intelligence enables African countries to shape global trade rules, advocate for favourable agreements, and assert their interests in international forums. To do so effectively, African states must coordinate and speak with one voice.
- Monitoring to Drive Industrial Development
Through technological, market, and regulatory monitoring, African governments can identify high-potential sectors — such as agribusiness, textiles, or renewable energy — and tailor their industrial policies accordingly. Monitoring also helps anticipate geopolitical, environmental, and economic shifts. For Africa to industrialise successfully, building this strategic foresight capacity is essential.
- Protection of Local Resources and Innovation
In a world of fierce economic competition, protecting strategic assets is vital. Africa must take firm steps to prevent the exploitation of its natural resources, strengthen intellectual property protections for local innovation, safeguard industrial secrets, and bolster cybersecurity across critical sectors.
To make competitive intelligence a genuine driver of industrialisation, Africa must foster a culture of strategic monitoring, build stable and coordinated governance frameworks, strengthen institutional and human capacity, promote data-driven industrial planning, and deepen regional cooperation.
Competitive intelligence offers a unique opportunity to support Africa’s industrial ambitions in a strategic, resilient, and sustainable manner. It provides the tools to shape industrial choices, defend national interests, and boost Africa’s global influence. But for CI to reach its full potential, challenges around governance, training, and information access must be addressed head-on.
As Africa seeks to build inclusive and sovereign growth, integrating competitive intelligence into its industrial strategies is not just desirable — it is essential.
Dr Lansana Gagny Sakho
