Sahel’s development, stability to be achieved through industrialization — AU/UN experts – The North Africa Post

“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.

The Government of Niger and several United Nations bodies organized a side event on inclusive and sustained industrialization as a driver of stability and resilience for the Sahel. This was part of the African Union Summit on Industrialization and Economic Diversification held in Niamey (Niger). 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.

Antonio Pedro, ECA Acting Executive Secretary, stated that, given the challenges facing the Sahel, it is crucial to invest in industrialization to change the narrative in this region, which is today synonymous with humanitarian needs and conflicts.

Abdoulaye Mars Dieye, Special Coordinator for Development, Sahel, stressed that there must be a group of African industries, preferably the private sector, and youth, to drive industrialization and development in the Sahel and Africa generally.