By:
Nana Appiah Acquaye
Morocco
has overtaken South Africa as Africa’s leading industrial economy, according to
the latest Africa Industrialisation Index (AII), which highlights sustained
industrial upgrading, export diversification, and targeted industrial policy as
key drivers of the shift.
The
findings were published in the Africa Industrialisation Index 2025, one of two
reports launched on Monday, 25 May, on the sidelines of the ongoing African
Development Bank Group Annual Meetings in Brazzaville.
The
report, which assesses industrial development across 54 African countries
between 2010 and 2024, indicates that 41 countries improved their
industrialisation scores over the period, with overall continental performance
increasing by six percent.
The
index points to steady progress across multiple economies, driven by policy
reforms, infrastructure development, and efforts to expand value addition and
manufacturing capacity within domestic markets.
According
to the report, Morocco’s rise to the top of the rankings reflects sustained
gains in industrial competitiveness, export diversification, and strategic
investment in manufacturing sectors, enabling it to surpass South Africa, which
has historically led the continent’s industrial landscape.
Commenting
on the findings, Ousmane Fall, Director for Industrial and Trade Development at
the African Development Bank Group, said the report serves both as a diagnostic
tool and a strategic roadmap for the continent’s industrial future.
“This
report is a roadmap as much as a diagnosis. It shows that 41 of our 54
countries are now moving in the right direction, but it also reminds us that
industrialisation at scale demands resilient infrastructure, value addition
close to source, and finance mobilised on African terms,” he said.
The
report underscores the need for continued investment in infrastructure,
industrial capacity, and financing mechanisms to sustain and accelerate
Africa’s industrial transformation agenda.
