Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative (AGII)

December 7, 2023

GS Paper III Environment

Context: Recently, the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative (AGII) was launched at the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

COP28 UAE will build on an investment of US$4.5 billion of private, public, and development capital.

About the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative

Aim: The Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative is an ambitious programme to upscale and accelerate green industries and businesses across Africa.
Launched by: The presidents and representatives from Kenya, Angola, Burundi, Djibouti, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, and Zambia, as well as COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber.
A Collaborative Approach: The initiative will bring together African Governments, the initiative’s partners, and other supporting institutions to offer accelerated end-to-end green growth solutions for committed governments.
Organization of Work: The work will be organized in two parallel and mutually enforcing work streams:
- Delivering Transformational Projects
- Effecting Systemic Change
Counter the Climate Change: The Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative incorporates elements of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement.
- It discourages fossil fuel production and use which immensely contributes to global warming.
Emphasis on: The importance of green industrialisation to harness Africa’s vast and quality resources to secure prosperity for all.
Significance: The Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative is important for Africa and also for the attainment of global climate ambitions (as per present leaders and delegations).
- African policy experts also embraced it and identified it as the Holy Grail of the continent’s socioeconomic transformation.
- As per the Economic Report on Africa 2016: Greening Africa’s Industrialization, published by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)- “Green industrialization is a precondition for sustainable and inclusive growth”.
Resources Availability: It has approximately 30% of the world’s reserves, including about 85% of manganese, 80% of platinum and chromium, 47% of cobalt, 21% of graphite, and 6% of copper.
- Global Supply: Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with its cobalt reserves and Zimbabwe’s lithium deposits play pivotal roles in the global supply chain.
Challenges:
- Impact on Economy: Countries such as Angola and Nigeria heavily rely on oil and to abandon fossil fuel would severely damage their economies.
- Impact on Aspirations: Countries such as Ghana, Uganda, Liberia, and Sierra Leone have recently discovered oil and are expecting profit but to abandon fossil fuel would severely damage their aspirations and economies.

How can India benefit from the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative?

Market Access: The Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative presents a vast potential market for Indian businesses in green technologies, renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, and related services.
- As Africa transitions towards a green economy, Indian companies can leverage their expertise and cost-competitiveness to supply these technologies and services.
Investment Opportunities: AGII’s focus on green infrastructure and industrial development creates investment opportunities for Indian companies in various sectors, including renewable energy projects, green hydrogen production, sustainable mining of critical minerals, and green logistics.
Joint Ventures: Indian companies can partner with African counterparts to establish joint ventures for manufacturing, assembly, and distribution of green technologies and products. This can create mutually beneficial partnerships, leverage local knowledge and expertise, and contribute to technology transfer.
Technology and Knowledge Transfer: India has accumulated significant experience and expertise in renewable energy, sustainable technologies, and green development strategies.
- The Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative provides an opportunity to share this expertise with African countries through capacity-building programs, knowledge exchange initiatives, and technical assistance.
Joint Research and Development: India can collaborate with African research institutions and universities on joint R&D projects to develop innovative and context-specific green technologies tailored to the needs of the continent.
Strategic Partnerships: The Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative can be a platform for India to further strengthen its strategic partnerships with African countries.
Collaboration on green industrialisation initiatives can foster mutual trust and cooperation, promote regional integration, and contribute to a more secure and stable Africa.