Where are the Jobs?
23/05/2014
Where are the Jobs? - AM 2014
Articles
Moderator: Mr. Alan Kasujja, BBC World Today
Panelists:
- Hon. Akinwunmi Adesina, Federal Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nigeria
- Dr. Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
- Prof. Justin Lin, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Mr. V. Shankar, CEO for Africa, Europe, Middle East and Americas, Standard Chartered Bank.
Rapporteur: Dr. Charles Leyeka Lufumpa, Director, Statistics Department, African Development Bank Group
Description:
Africa’s global potential is dependent on how well it uses its window of opportunity to embark on industrialization. The point of departure is that few countries have attained a sustainable level of economic development and reduced poverty without a large and vibrant industrial sector, spearheaded by manufacturing activities – which provide economic growth, employment, and economic diversification. As a result, many African countries are still at the initial stages of gaining access to Global Value Chains (GVCs) beyond natural resource exports.
Issues for Discussion:
- What does Africa need to do to develop global value chains and move up the productivity ladder?
- Some natural resource-based sectors do not translate into jobs and employment opportunities. How can Africa ensure that its natural resources – particularly the extractive industries – serve as the entry point for the global value chains?
- Agro-business can also be Africa’s entry point to the global value chains. What should be the balancing act between agro-business and food insecurity in the continent?