Only Four African Economies Ready for Sustainable Industrialisation – RED Index 2025 Report Reveals

A new 2025 RED Index of Industrial Development in Africa has revealed a sobering reality about the continent’s industrial future. According to the report released by the Business Council for Africa, only four economies—Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, and Mauritius—are currently structured to sustain long-term industrial growth.

The report emphasizes that Africa’s industrialisation challenge is not driven by lack of ambition, but by deep structural limitations. It explains that while many countries aspire to industrial growth, only a few have the foundational systems needed to consistently scale production and attract sustained investment.

Using its evaluation framework, the RED Index assessed African economies across three key areas: Engines of Industrialisation, Accelerators of growth, and Decelerators that hinder progress. It found that most countries on the continent fall into either “vulnerable” or “stalled” categories, with only Rwanda and Nigeria showing partial but incomplete progress.

A major concern highlighted in the report is the persistent impact of corruption and security instability, which continue to weaken institutions and slow down the implementation of industrial policies. The index also draws comparisons with successful industrialising nations such as South Korea, Vietnam, Brazil, and Morocco to identify patterns that African economies could replicate.

Speaking on the findings, President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, stressed that Africa’s development must come from within, stating that industrial growth requires “clarity of structure and commitment to execution.” Similarly, Arnold Ekpe, Chairman of the Business Council for Africa, described the index as a wake-up call for governments and investors to prioritize structural reforms that can unlock long-term industrial transformation across the continent.

source: The Guardian