Industrial Policy for Africa - Message from IFC

Ethiopis Tafara, IFC Regional Vice President for Africa, joined the Industrial Policy for Africa conference with a video message. In his intervention, he highlighted how industrial policy can be a practical development tool for Africa and how it must be grounded in credibility, policy certainty, and meaningful private sector engagement.

Industrial policy matters not as a slogan, but as a serious, evidence‑based tool for Africa’s development.

Drawing on IFC’s direct experience with firms, his message emphasized that unpredictable policy environments deter investment more than taxes or regulation, and that effective industrial policy should prioritize data transparency, extend beyond manufacturing into services and agribusiness, and remain fiscally disciplined. He stressed that industrial policy can be a means to unlock private sector–led growth, job creation, and opportunity in the continent.

Read more about the conference and watch additional sessions here.