High Level Event III - Where are the Jobs - Kigali, 21 May 2014

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.

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:
1. What does Africa need to do to develop global value chains and move up the productivity ladder?
2. 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?