AFRICA INDUSTRIALIZATION DAY: NOVEMBER 22, 2013

AFRICA INDUSTRIALIZATION DAY

Quick Facts

Africa Industrialization Day aims to stimulate the international community’s commitment to the industrialization of Africa.

Local names

Name Language
Africa Industrialization Day English
Día de la Industrialización de África Spanish

Africa Industrialization Day 2013

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Africa Industrialization Day 2014

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Africa Industrialization Day is celebrated on November 20 each year. It is a time when governments and other organizations in many African countries examine ways to stimulate Africa’s industrialization process. It is also an occasion to draw worldwide media attention to the problems and challenges of industrialization in Africa.

Africa Industrialization Day themes have focused on business and technology in previous times.©iStockphoto.com/bonnie jacobs

What do people do?

Various events are held to mark Africa Industrialization Day. Many of these involve local and national leaders and representatives of national and international non-governmental organizations. A special effort is made to unite leaders or representatives of as many African countries as possible to stimulate discussion on the industrialization of Africa and assess the progress made in the past year. The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) plays an important role in coordinating events on or around Africa Industrialization Day.

In addition, statements are delivered at UNIDO’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria. These statements are from leaders from the African Union, the Economic Commission for Africa, and the UN. It is hoped that these parties will raise global consciousness of the importance of industrialization in Africa and remind the international community that more than 30 of the world’s 50 least developed countries are located in Africa

Public life

Africa Industrialization Day is a global observance and not a public holiday.

Background

The 25th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in July 1989. During this session, November 20 was declared to be Africa Industrialization Day. On December 22, 1989, the UN General Assembly also proclaimed this date to be Africa Industrialization Day. It was first observed on November 20, 1990.

Each year events around Africa Industrialization Day concentrate on a particular theme. In the past the themes have been: “New information and communication technologies” (2002); “Acceleration of Africa’s integration in the global economy through effective industrialization and market access” (2003); “Strengthening productive capacity for poverty reduction within the framework of NEPAD” (2004); “Generating African competitiveness for sustainable market access” (2005); “Reducing poverty through sustainable industrial development” (2006); “Technology and innovation for industry: investing in people is investing in the future” (2007); and “Business through technology” (2008).

Symbols

A common symbol of Africa Industrialization Day is a geographical representation of the continent, including the island of Madagascar. Flags of international organizations in Africa, such as the African Union, or a selection of national flags may also be displayed.

Africa Industrialization Day Observances

Weekday Date Year Name Holiday type Where it is observed
Tue Nov 20 1990 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Wed Nov 20 1991 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Fri Nov 20 1992 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Sat Nov 20 1993 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Sun Nov 20 1994 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Mon Nov 20 1995 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Wed Nov 20 1996 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Thu Nov 20 1997 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Fri Nov 20 1998 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Sat Nov 20 1999 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Mon Nov 20 2000 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Tue Nov 20 2001 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Wed Nov 20 2002 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Thu Nov 20 2003 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Sat Nov 20 2004 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Sun Nov 20 2005 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Mon Nov 20 2006 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Tue Nov 20 2007 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Thu Nov 20 2008 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Fri Nov 20 2009 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Sat Nov 20 2010 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Sun Nov 20 2011 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Tue Nov 20 2012 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Wed Nov 20 2013 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Thu Nov 20 2014 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Fri Nov 20 2015 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Sun Nov 20 2016 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Mon Nov 20 2017 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Tue Nov 20 2018 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Wed Nov 20 2019 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance
Fri Nov 20 2020 Africa Industrialization Day United Nations observance

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