Building the evidence base for world-class African industrialisation.

The CAI is pleased to announce the commencement of the Quarterly South African Manufacturing Survey in 2026.

Click here for information about the Quarterly South African Manufacturing Survey
Technician in blue uniform inspecting laptops on an assembly line with a clipboard and headphones

RESEARCH • POLICY • DEVELOPMENT

The Centre for African Industrialisation (CAI) generates rigorous, industry-engaged evidence on manufacturing in South Africa and across the continent, and convenes the partners who support world-class African industrialisation. The organisation focuses on increasing the global competitiveness of African production, enhancing and integrating African value chains and reducing the reliance on raw material exports.

Industrilisation and manufacturing:

We advocate for and support the development of robust value chains. Our goal is to see “Made in Africa” become a global gold standard.

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“Over the years, African leaders have restated their determination to seize emerging opportunities to foster industrial development as an effective, socially responsible and sustainable means towards economic transformation..”

The African Union

The quarterly survey: The CAI is launching a Quarterly South African Manufacturing Survey in 2026. The primary objective of the research is to produce quarterly evidence-based reports aimed at tracking real-time industry trends, operational challenges, and growth opportunities within the manufacturing sector.

Click here for more information or to contact us.

A platform for policy engagement

CAI provides a neutral table at which government, industry, labour and academia can engage on industrial policy questions. The Centre contributes independent evidence to key policy debates.

Convening and capacity building

  • The Centre will convene a programme of seminars and breakfast debates.
  • We are developing a teaching and training stream to deepen the pipeline of industrial economics, and industrial policy expertise, on the continent.
Windows of a building in Nuremberg, Germany

The future of work

  • CAI will work to bring labour-side evidence into research on employment, skills, working conditions and the future of work.
  • Industrialisation cannot be understood from the firm side alone, and this workstream focuses on the role of workers, and the changing world of work, in supporting sustainable industrialisation.