FORUM:"Transforming Africa’s Economy through Sustainable Industrialization, Regional Integration, and Innovation." Africa Industrialization Day 2025. Sustainable industrialization, regional integration and innovation, a focus key thematic Week’s policy discussion area, aligns with key AU continental industrialization policy frameworks. The Action Plan for Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa (AIDA) and Industrial Development Decades for Africa (IDDA III) emphasize sustainable industrialization and economic diversification. On the other hand, it aligns with the AfCFTA Protocols on promoting regional integration, trade, and industrial development. In this regard, the 2025 AIW week’s long policy debate will advance innovative thoughts on how the continent can harness its vast and abundant natural resources, promote economic growth, and create jobs. Regional integration, facilitated by AfCFTA, enables the creation of larger markets, increasing competitiveness and attracting investments. Innovation is a crucial driver of productivity, entrepreneurship, and technological advancement. By integrating and embracing these concepts, Africa can accelerate its industrialization journey, achieve structural & productive transformations and sustainable economic development, as envisioned in the AU's Agenda 2063, particularly, on aspirations One: Sustainable development and economic diversification, and goals 4: “Transformed Economies”. This convergence can propel Africa's economic growth. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #sustainableindustralization, #AccelerateafricasIndustrialization, #AIW2025, #integratedmarket, #AfricaIndustrializationDay, #Industrialization, #20november, #AfricaIndustrialization, #AfricaIndustrializationWeek, #IndustrializingAfrica.
The African Union Commission (AUC), in collaboration with the United Nations IndustrialDevelopment Organization (UNIDO), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa(UNECA), African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa's Development
(AUDA-NEPAD), and the Afro-Champions Initiative, will host the 2025 AIW which will take place from 17th to 21st November 2025 and will be held under the
theme: “Transforming Africa’s Economy through Sustainable Industrialization,
Regional Integration and Innovation”. The events of the week are designed to bring
together key stakeholders for comprehensive multi-stakeholder dialogue. The 2025
edition will further leverage the creative potential of the African youth startups to drive
economic growth and development, a forum aimed at highlighting the innovative Youth
Start-ups enterprises across the continent. These three events envisioned to promote
sustainable industrialization, innovation, and regional integration, to drive Africa's
economic development.
2. OBJECTIVES
2.1. The overall objective emphasizes building synergies between policy models,
investments, innovation, and capacity building of youth starts-ups across sectors
to transform Africa's economy through sustainable industrialization, regional integration, and innovation, targeting at driving economic growth and development.
The following are the specific objectives:
i. To promote sustainable industrialization amongst the AU Member States for
adoption by identifying and showcasing policy models and best practices that
can be replicated across Africa.
ii. To foster regional integration by strengthening inter AU member state and
Regional Economic Communities (RECs) coordination on industrial
development.
iii. To provide a platform for the African Youth Startups and Women led enterprises
for networking and access to investment opportunities.
iv. To encourage the development of industrial infrastructure through policy
discussion and agreement on strategies that support industrial growth and
regional integration.
v. To enhance policy recommendations and continental regulatory industrial policy
frameworks such as AIDA and IDDA III, and guidelines for promoting sustainable
industrialization, regional integration, and innovation in Africa.
3. EXPECTED OUTCOMES
3.1The following are the expected outcomes:
i. Replicable sustainable industrialization policy models and best practices are
identified and showcased for African Union member states.
ii. Strengthened Inter AU member state and REC coordination on industrialization
iii. Intra-African trade and investment in industrial sectors are increased especially
among women and the youth.
iv. Industrial policy strategies for industrial infrastructure development identified to
support industrial growth and regional integration.
v. Actionable policy recommendations and guidelines for promoting sustainable
industrialization, regional integration, and promoting innovations in Africa
identified.
4. WHO WILL ATTEND
4.1 The AIW2025 will draw participants among others from African Union member states,
Regional Economic Communities; UN agencies; Regional and International DevelopmentFinance Institutions; representatives of the private sector, civil society, Youth start-Ups,
African Women in Processing involved in the industrialization agenda in the continent.
Inclusion of women and youth start-ups ensures that the future leaders and innovators
get a chance to voice their creative ideas and get invaluable exposure, as well as for
achieving gender parity in industry and promoting women empowerment.
5. FORMAT
5.1. The week will have several events led by different organizations and these will include
high-level event which will be marked by speeches from dignitaries on Africaindustrialization Day. It will also have side events which will include presentations, Panel
discussions on topical issues that will contribute to realizing the objectives. Apart from
these, Youth and women will exhibit their value added products and innovations to
potential buyers and investors.
6. VENUE AND DATES
6.1 The Africa Industrialization Week, 4th AWIP Forum and 1st African Youth Starts-UpForum event for 2025 will take place from 17th –21st November 2025, Kampala Uganda. Register to participate!
Statements of the United Nations Secretary-General on Africa Industrialization Day 2025.
On Africa Industrialization Day, we celebrate the continent’s determination to transform its economies and build a sustainable future for all.
Across Africa, green industries are expanding — powered to a great extent by the ingenuity and entrepreneurship of women and youth.
At the same time, the African Continental Free Trade Area is opening a new era of opportunity — creating a unified market and laying the foundations for sustainable supply chains and shared prosperity across the region.
Yet challenges remain. Climate change, mounting debt, and food and energy insecurity all pose threats to Africa’s growth.
This year’s theme — Transforming Africa’s Economy through Sustainable Industrialization, Regional Integration, and Innovation — highlights the urgent need for an industrial future that is both green and digitally connected.
To get there, we must reform the global financial architecture. That means delivering real debt relief, tripling the lending capacity of multilateral development banks, and giving developing countries a more meaningful role in the economic institutions that govern their fate.
Sustainable industrialization is vital to unlocking Africa’s full potential and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.
Let us work together to harness creativity, deepen regional ties, and ensure that Africa’s growth benefits both people and planet.
United Nations Secretary-General.
Draft Agenda & Programme of Work
Africa Youth Startups Forum (AYSF 2025).
Dates: 18th – 20th November 2025
Venue: Munyonyo Speke Resort Hotel, Kampala, Uganda.
Day Two: Wednesday, 19th November 2025 Focus: Deal-making, Mentoring and Clinics.
Day Three: Thursday, 20th November 2025 Focus: AID Day & Recognition of Youth Innovations.
CONTACT INFORMATION
A. African Union Commission
i. Mr. William Simwanza,
Expert
Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals
P.O Box 3243, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
simwanzaw@africanunion.org
ii. Mr. Robine Okello,
Industrial Policy and Economic Transformation Expert
Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals (ETTIM)
P.O Box 3243, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
robineo@africanunion.org
B. Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Republic of Uganda
i. Mr. Denis Ainebyona,
Commissioner for Industry and Technology,
Department of Industry and Technology,
Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives,
Email: denis.ainebyona@mtic.go.ug
Email : dainebyona@yahoo.com.
ii. Ms. Berna Nakkazi
Senior Industrial Officer,
Department of Industry and Technology
Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.
Email: Berna.nakkazi@mtic.go.ug, Email : bernieritah@gmail.com
LIVESTREAM: AID2025
a
No comments:
Post a Comment