The pulse of export diversification in Africa

As highlighted in the introduction, African countries struggle to diversify their exports, partly due to historical factors that created path dependencies from a lack of skills endowment and technological advancement. The first two sections of chapter 1 aim to identify recent drivers of export diversification to provide a better understanding of the key challenges in promoting export diversification. The third section provides a forward-looking perspective of export diversification opportunities that provide greater benefits for structural change. Throughout the analysis, the importance of regional integration in fostering diversification stands out. The last section discusses the pivotal role of the African Continental Free Trade Area in redressing the low levels of intra-African trade and encouraging export diversification.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Decent Work and Economic Growth

Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Partnerships for the Goals