As geopolitical tensions reshape global trade dynamics, Africa is being thrust into the spotlight as a viable, forward-looking alternative for manufacturers and investors seeking resilient, diversified supply chains. The U.S.-China tariff standoff—with duties reaching as high as 145%—has disrupted traditional trade corridors, prompting a rethinking of sourcing strategies across industries.
In this shifting landscape, West Africa is positioning itself as an attractive trade and industrial hub, thanks in part to regional integration efforts under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Ghana is already seeing a projected 6-percentage-point rise in regional exports, Senegal’s textile industry is gaining ground, and Côte d’Ivoire is asserting leadership in cocoa processing. Nigeria, too, is taking steps to realign its trade strategy.
Speaking recently, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, H.E. Wale Edun, emphasized the need to turn current global disruptions into opportunity by strengthening local value addition and rebranding Nigeria as a strategic investment destination.
This strategic shift underpins the upcoming West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing and Trade (IMT) Summit & Exhibition 2025, scheduled for October 21–23, 2025, at the Landmark Centre, Lagos. Themed “Accelerating West Africa’s Sustainable Industrial Revolution for Economic Prosperity,” the summit aims to unpack the implications of global supply chain shifts and explore actionable steps for Africa’s industrial growth.
Wemimo Oyelana, Portfolio Director for dmg events Africa, noted that the summit arrives at a critical juncture. “The current global trade tensions are a wake-up call for Africa to reset its trade priorities, strengthen intra-African trade, and reimagine its global trade partnerships,” Oyelana said.
The event will convene policymakers, business leaders, and development financiers to examine key levers of industrial transformation—ranging from regional value chains and industrial financing to energy infrastructure and trade policy. It will also feature investment showcases, policy roundtables, and thematic sessions designed to chart a bold new path for West Africa’s industrial future.
As the world searches for new trade allies and production centers, the 2025 West Africa IMT Summit offers a timely and strategic platform for the region to stake its claim as the next frontier of sustainable industrial growth.
