The Industry 4.0 Challenge

Many Sub-Saharan African policy makers are counting on "light manufacturing" such as shoe, electronic & furniture assembly, spurred by foreign outsourcing, to drive a significant pickup in manufacturing activity and "structural transformation". But along with doubts about the wisdom of global rather then domestic value chains, "Industry 4.0" and the attendant strides in robotics and artificial intelligence could seriously undermine any projected strides. A Plan B is definitely warranted.