The United Nations (UN)’s Africa Industrialization Day is annually observed across the globe on 20th November to highlight the critical importance of Industrial development for sustained and inclusive economic growth in African countries.
- 20th November 2023 marks the 34th Africa Industrialization Day.
Theme:
The theme of Africa Industrialization Day 2023 is “Accelerating Africa’s Industrialization through the Empowerment of African Women in Processing for an Integrated Market” .
- The theme focuses on the critical role of women-led enterprises in driving Africa’s industrialization through processing and value-addition.
- The theme highlights the integration of women entrepreneurs in African markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Background:
i.In July 1989, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) conducted its 25th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- During this session, 20th November was declared as the “Africa Industrialization Day”.
ii.In December 1989, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/44/237 and proclaimed the 20th November of every year as the ‘Africa Industrialization Day’.
- The resolution also proclaimed the period 1991 – 2000 as the “Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa”
iii.The first ever Africa Industrialization Day was observed on 20th November 1990.
Africa Industrialization Week:
Since 2018, the Africa Industrialization Day has been commemorated with week long events as “Africa Industrialization Week”.
- The events of Africa Industrialization Week 2023 was hosted in Cairo, Egypt from 9th to 15th November 2023.
Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (2016-2025):
On 25 July 2016, the United Nations General Assembly passed the resolution A/RES/70/293 proclaimed 2016-2025 as the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA III).
- IDDA III aims to firmly anchor Africa on a path toward inclusive and sustainable industrial development.
Events 2023:
i.An event to mark the observance of Africa Industrialization Day 2023 was organised by United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the African Union (AU) Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations in UN headquarters at New York, the United States of America(USA).
Agenda 2063:
i.Agenda 2063 was adopted in January 2015 by the Heads of States and Governments of the African Union in Addis Ababa.
- It is a blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse in 50 years.
ii.With 7 aspirations and 20 priorities, the framework aims to deliver on the goal for inclusive and sustainable development across Africa.
Note: Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs) are intertwined as the two programmes aim at a more sustainable common future on a healthy planet.
