Author Irene Yuan Sun argues in her new book that Africa is poised to become the world’s next manufacturing hub, boosted by Chinese investment and production expertise. With costs steadily rising in the People’s Republic of China, more and more companies are looking to offshore production from China to more affordable countries. Africa and its abundant population of young workers, free trade access into the U.S. market, and proximity to the European Union make it an attractive investment destination for cost-conscious manufacturers.
Sun joins Eric and Cobus to talk about The Next Factory of the World: How Chinese Investment is Reshaping Africa. The book is part travelogue, part business intelligence report about a fascinating trend that operates largely out of sight yet has potentially massive implications for the future direction of almost every economy in Africa.
Recommendations
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“The World’s Next Great Manufacturing Center,” Irene Yuan Sun, Harvard Business Review, May-June 2017
- “Why China is Sending Jobs to Africa,” Marc Sollinger, Public Radio International, August 7, 2017