To accelerate their industrialisation in the face of tough global competition, West African countries must leverage their comparative and competitive advantages. Several strategies are available to them. The first is integration into global value chains, by initially developing low added value and labour intensive activities before gradually moving upmarket in the value chain. A second strategy is based on the transformation of local products, such as mango, shea, cashew and textiles. A third strategy is that of regional value chains, which focuses on local production of goods for regional markets. Read on

With growth estimated at 3.3%, the West African economy was less dynamic than that of East Africa (6.3%), Central Africa (3.7%) and North Africa (3.5 %), but stronger than that of Southern Africa (2.8%). This performance is mainly due to the economic downturn in Nigeria. In the short term, the report forecasts a gradual recovery in economic activity in the region, which is expected to grow 4.3% in 2016 and 5.5% in 2017. Côte d’Ivoire could become the continent’s most dynamic economy in 2016, with growth of 8.6%. Read on

In an interview with the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), NEPAD CEO Ibrahim Mayaki analyses the dynamics of industrialisation in Africa and explains the challenges facing West Africa in this area. Industrialisation in the sub-region lags significantly behind the two major industrial regions that make up North Africa on the one hand and Southern and East Africa on the other. Read on

To what extent does UEMOA encourage trade and financial integration? How do UEMOA countries compare to other sub-Saharan African countries in terms of macroeconomic stability? Has UEMOA’s fixed exchange rate regime impeded competitiveness? And how has UEMOA promoted economic convergence among member countries? Amadou Sy and Mariama Sow provide some answers to these key questions in an article posted on the Brookings blog. Read on