This is one of the many issues that has come under the spotlight at the Manufacturing Indaba underway in Johannesburg, South Africa .

The event has brought together business owners, industry leaders, government officials, capital providers and professional experts to explore opportunities and grow their manufacturing operations.

Professor Jakkie Cilliers, from the Institute for Security Studies in South Africa explains why the topic is important.

"I think manufacturing is the automatic escalator that allows countries to transition to higher productivity so focusing on manufacturing is hugely important. Our forecasting indicates that it is the sector that next to the full implementation of the Continental Free Area delivers the most rapid growth and income and poverty reduction. Probably the most important is to get government wide coherence of behind the pursuit of manufacturing growth path."

--ChannelAfrica--