Book Review

http://books.google.com/books?id=if4UbeuR724C

INDUSTRIALIZING AFRICA

By Makonnen Alemayehu

I recalled a book* when I came to learn that the theme of the Tenth Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) was ‘Industrial Development of Africa.’ The 521 page book is titled Industrializing Africa: Development Options and Challenges for the 21st Century. It is authored by Makonnen Alemayehu and published in 2000 by Africa World Press, Inc. It is dedicated to the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and Ethiopia .

The editorial review on the back cover of the book gives some idea about the book.

“There is a dearth of books on African industry. This one helps remedy such paucity. Unlike other books on industry, it introduces the reader to the political, social, and economic conditions of the continent, thus providing the reader with background setting. This is an important feature of the book for the majority of readers whose exposure to the African situation might be limited. The rest of the book deals with the core subject matter, manufacturing. It discusses natural and human resources, infrastructure and progress in improvement constraints on industrial development; review industrial development; identifies industrial priorities; suggests options for implementing the priorities; and presents strategies for the development of manufacturing.

Meeting basic needs (food, health, clothing, shelter, education and transportation) is the basis for identification of priority industries. Africa now depends on imports to offset the lack of local grown foods. This option is unaffordable to most African countries who have inadequate foreign exchange earnings. The author advocates that the only option possible for African countries is increasing local agricultural production and processing these products into viable commodities.

The book contains a wealth of information, including 78 annexes. It is gold mine of information (for a region where information is hard to come by) for potential investors, governments, consulting firms, R&D institutions, universities and individuals interested in African affairs.”

As readers may notice from the above the author’s approach to industrialization appears to be similar to the agriculture lead industrial development of the EPRDF strategy. According to the table of contents of the book the priority industries include: food, pharmaceuticals, textile, and building, educational and packaging materials. Apparently, local production of inputs to these priority industries are the basis of the author’s approach. These comprise manufacturing of agricultural chemicals, equipment and machinery; equipment and machinery for processing and transporting agricultural inputs and outputs; and equipment and machinery for energy generation and transmission. Obviously, manufacturing of these implies integrating the capability and capacity to eventually lead to the development of heavy industries, such as basic chemicals and metals.

* For those who want to buy the book it is available at Amazon.com.

Thank You

Yonas Kebede