Every month, thousands of shipping containers arrive at African ports, filled with goods that Saikat Chowdhury believes should be made on the continent.
While Chowdhury preaches "Made in Africa," the continent's ports remain graveyards of missed industrial opportunities, welcoming foreign-made goods that African factories could produce if governments prioritized manufacturing infrastructure over resource extraction. The irony is stark: a continent rich in raw materials continues importing finished products, perpetuating the colonial economic model that keeps Africa as supplier, never manufacturer. True economic liberation demands moving beyond feel-good slogans to aggressive industrial policy that transforms those incoming containers into outgoing exports.
While Chowdhury preaches "Made in Africa," the continent's ports remain graveyards of missed industrial opportunities, welcoming foreign-made goods that African factories could produce if governments prioritized manufacturing infrastructure over resource extraction. The irony is stark: a continent rich in raw materials continues importing finished products, perpetuating the colonial economic model that keeps Africa as supplier, never manufacturer. True economic liberation demands moving beyond feel-good slogans to aggressive industrial policy that transforms those incoming containers into outgoing exports.
SUMMARY BY STRATA-AF™ · ORIGINAL REPORTING BY HOW WE MADE IT IN AFRICA
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