VP to officiate at Africa industrisaliation Day commemoration in Dar today

Vice President Dr Mohamed Ghalib Bilal will today officiate at the commemoration of the industrial sector – Africa Industrialisation Day in Dar es Salaam with the theme 'Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development: African Agro-industry for Food Security'.

This year’s Africa Industrialisation Day celebrations are taking place following the adoption of the Lima Declaration by The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (Unido) member states last December and the approval of the organisation’s new mandate for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID).


Based on consensus reached by Unido, the AU and Uneca, African countries have been using November 20 of every year as the day to commemorate the importance of industrial sector – Africa Industrialisation Day (AID).

The occasion is used to engage stakeholders in deliberations on issues deemed important to the sustainable development of the industrial sector.
Every year, a common theme is identified by the three agencies to help guide the commemoration.

Commemorations for Africa Industrial Day in Tanzania are being coordinated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade with the support of CTI, Unido and other institutions. The commemorations in Tanzania will be held at the Mwalimu Nyerere (saba Saba) grounds in Dar es Salaam.

Africa Industrialisation Day was established in 1990 and is the day when a large number of African governments and organisations gathered to examine different ways of stimulating the industrialisation process on the continent. This special day attracts a large amount of attention from around the world and special seminars, meetings and other types of events are held throughout Africa.

Although it can be seen that industrialisation in Africa is gradually increasing, it is significantly behind many other parts of the world, which has an impact on Africa’s development and its ability to interact at a global level.

It is also an occasion to draw worldwide media attention to the problems and challenges of industrialisation in Africa.

Many of the events that take place on Africa Industrialisation Day are attended by national leaders and representatives. On this day, effort is made to bring together the leaders of as many African countries so that they are able to strive for common goals that benefit industrialisation in Africa as a whole.

However, University of Dar-es Salaam Senior Lecturer Dr Haji Semboja will give a presentation of the thematic paper for Aid 'Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development: Africa Agro Industry for Food Security'.

Some other figures who will attend the cerebrations are Dr Abdallah Kigoda - Minister for Industry and Trade, Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Dr Samuel Nyantahe Chairman – CTI and UN Resident Coordinator in Tanzania who will give a statement of UN Secretary General.

Last year, Africa Industrialisation Day was cerebrated with the theme “Job Creation and Entrepreneurship Development: A Means to Accelerate Industrialisation in Africa”.