Mozambique has been identified as one of the African countries driving the new wave of industrialization on the continent, according to a study by the Industrial Analytics Platform, which analyzed employment trends in the manufacturing sector across 51 countries, including 18 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
According to the study, until the early 2000s, Sub-Saharan Africa experienced a process of deindustrialization. However, more recent data shows a reversal of that trend, with countries such as Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Kenya, Lesotho, and Senegal leading this African industrial renaissance.
Between 1990 and 2010, the average employment in the industrial sector remained stagnant at 7.2%. However, by 2018, this figure had risen to 8.3%, reflecting a renewed growth in industrial activity across several African economies. The research concludes that during the 2010s, countries in the region reached industrial employment levels higher than in previous decades, demonstrating that inclusive industrialization is once again attainable.
The study emphasizes that the ability to expand production beyond domestic markets will be crucial to consolidating this trend, with participation in global value chains and leveraging comparative advantages — such as a young and abundant labor force — being key factors to sustaining growth.
Still, researchers warn that African industrialization should, for now, focus on labor-intensive rather than highly specialized activities, in order to ensure broad employment absorption.
The analysis also highlights the urgent need to strengthen digital and technological ecosystems to prepare for the challenges and opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Despite unequal access to technology between developed and developing countries, there are positive signs that digitalization could also benefit African economies, including Mozambique.
The topic will be further explored at the Manufacturing Indaba Conference, scheduled for July 15–16, 2025, in Johannesburg, where the future of industry on the continent will be discussed. The conference will bring together experts, policymakers, and business leaders to devise strategies for accelerating industrial and digital development in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Source: Engineering News
