Africafé: Innovations and Industrial Policies in Africa

December 28, 2023

In this episode, we interviewed Mr. Arkebe Oqubay Metiku, British Academy Global Professor, SOAS University of London around Africa's industrial policies and their impact on growth. We discussed key elements such as innovation, regional collaboration, sustainability, and intellectual property protection. Mr. Arkebe shared his insights on pivotal sectors like technology, manufacturing, and services, highlighting their role in driving economic prosperity. We also addressed how industrial policies foster collaboration among African nations through regional value chains. The episode touched on the complexities of a green industrial strategy, examining trade-offs between economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social equity.

Speakers
Ahmed Ouhnini
Economist, Policy Center for the New South
Ahmed Ouhnini is an Economist at the Policy Center for the New South. His research area covers agricultural economics, human and social development. Previously, he has worked as a researcher at the Paris School of Economics (PSE) and has also a record of working in consulting services in Morocco. Ahmed holds an engineering Diploma in Agriculture and Rural Development from the National School of Agriculture of Meknes and a Master’s Degree in Law, Economics and Management from the Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne Institute of Development. ...
Arkebe Oqubay Metiku
British Academy Global Professor, SOAS University of London
 Arkebe Oqubay (PhD) is a distinguished scholar-practitioner. He is a British AcademyGlobal Professor at SOAS University of London. He is a former Senior Minister and hasserved as a Special Advisor to three successive prime ministers of Ethiopia. He has been atthe centre of policymaking in Ethiopia for over 30 years, successfully leading bold reformsand playing a pivotal role in Ethiopia’s economic transformation. He is the former Mayorof Addis Ababa, recognized for transforming the city. He has led the boards of key publicenterprises, including Ethiopian Airlines. Dr Arkebe’s research focuses on structural transformation,catch-up, green transformation, and industrial policy with a focus on Africa. DrArkebe currently gives policy advice to, and consults for, African gover ...

RELATED CONTENT

  • Authors
    February 24, 2026
    This Paper was originally published on sciencedirect.com This paper assesses the national and regional impacts of the Marrakech–Fès highway project in Morocco using a Spatial Computable General Equilibrium (SCGE) model combined with GIS-based road network data. The analysis captures how improved connectivity alters economic performance and emissions patterns across space and time. Results show that while overall economic gains are modest, the benefits are unevenly distributed—f ...
  • January 29, 2026
    Le Mali, le Burkina Faso et le Niger, réunis au sein de l’Alliance des États du Sahel (AES), affirment l’ambition de bâtir une souveraineté nationale qui leur permettrait de s’émanciper de la domination et des influences extérieures et de se doter d’une liberté d’action dans les choix de développement politique et économique. Cependant, cette ambition se heurte à de nombreuses contraintes économiques et sécuritaires.La souveraineté ne peut se construire sans une base économique soli ...
  • Authors
    January 27, 2026
    This paper revisits Big Push industrialization theory in the context of open economies deeply integrated into global value chains (GVCs). While classical Big Push models emphasize demand complementarities and coordination failures in largely closed economies, many middle-income countries now industrialize through foreign-owned, import-intensive production networks. We develop an extended Big Push framework that incorporates GVC integration and import leakage, and show how these feat ...
  • Authors
    Ahmed Ouhnini
    December 5, 2025
    L’« uberisation », terme né du nom de l’entreprise américaine Uber au début des années 2010, désigne initialement un modèle économique fondé sur la mise en relation directe entre offre et demande via des plateformes numériques. Rapidement popularisé, le concept s’est élargi, avec Airbnb dans l’hébergement, puis à une multitude d’autres secteurs : livraison de repas, services à domicile, commerce en ligne, voire des métiers traditionnellement régulés ou corporatistes. Ce néologisme t ...
  • December 2, 2025
    في هذه الحلقة، نحاول اكتشاف ما الذي يجعل المغرب يعيش اليوم تحولاً لافتاً في عالم المدفوعات الرقمية. كيف أصبحت التكنولوجيا المالية أحد مفاتيح الشمول المالي ومحركاً لنمو جديد؟ وكيف يغيّر الاعتماد المتزايد لوسائل الدفع الحديثة حياة التجار الصغار والمقاولات الصغيرة والمتوسطة ويخلق لهم فرصاً...
  • Authors
    December 2, 2025
    This paper assesses the economic and environmental implications of Morocco’s strategic transition from internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) manufacturing to electric vehicle (EV) production, with a particular focus on the regional impacts of localizing high-value battery manufacturing. Using an interregional input-output model, extended with environmental satellite accounts, the study simulates a structural shock related to the wholesale substitution of ICEV-specific inputs wit ...
  • Authors
    Arkebe Oqubay
    November 17, 2025
    Morocco has emerged as one of Africa's success stories, achieving significant progress in economic transformation and the green transition over the past 25 years. Continuing and deepening this transformation is essential to reach the country’s goal of becoming a high-income economy in the coming decades. Significant challenges include managing the risk of the middle-income trap, addressing demographic pressures, promoting inclusive growth, ensuring environmental sustainability, and ...
  • October 3, 2025
    In this episode, we explore Africa’s industrial challenges and opportunities, showing how AfCFTA-driven integration, green sectors, and inclusive policies for women, youth, and SMEs can foster sustainable growth, resilience, and domestic value capture. ...
  • September 23, 2025
    في هذا العدد من برنامجنا، نسلّط الضوء على موقع المغرب الاستراتيجي الذي يجعله حلقة وصل بين الأطلسي والمتوسط، ودوره المتصاعد في التجارة الدولية والاقتصاد البحري. نناقش التحديات والفرص التي تطرحها هذه الدينامية، من تطوير البنية التحتية وتأهيل الكفاءات، إلى استكشاف آفاق الاقتصاد الأزرق وضما...