Manufacturing has the potential to spark productivity more than any other sector in the economy.
It is important to note that, contrary to common perceptions, manufacturing does not ‘compete’ with other industries such as the services sector. Rather, it is an ‘enabler’ for productivity for all other sectors.
For starters, it has been proven that as long as the share of manufacturing to GDP is rising, the per capita growth rate (which reflects average incomes) continues to rise. This is what economists have referred to as structural change bonus.
However, if we reduce the resources towards investment in manufacturing, in favour of services – for example, we risk experiencing a structural change burden. This is the opposite of the bonus. We would be relying on a sector whose capacity does not support the required increase in productivity.
It is true that few services, like transport, distribution & ICT, which are linked to markets, have the potential for productivity. However, in order to have and sustain a thriving market, an economy needs to have a strong manufacturing base, which supports agriculture and production of quality goods.
“Returns to capital in manufacturing are higher than in other sectors”
Secondly, manufacturing and agriculture are interlinked. Each sector depends on the success of the other to grow. It must be said that manufacturing creates more opportunities for capital accumulation than agriculture. This means that companies in industry, be it Small, Medium or Large, are able to invest in diverse assets and to increase capital flow.
Additionally, the returns to capital in manufacturing are higher than in other sectors. Because it supports productive investments, manufacturing enables high savings rates. Moreover, you will find that typically, investment spending is channeled towards manufactured goods such as machinery, equipment and building material. Capital Intensity is highest in manufacturing.
Manufacturing also offers opportunities for economies of scale. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa has stated that manufacturing is especially important in advancing technologies in many societies due to ‘Its leading role in diffusing technological progresses’.
Technological advancement is concentrated in manufacturing and then diffuses to other sectors, that is through machines. The development of gadgets, gizmos, tools and equipment that is used to drive productivity and efficiency in other sectors rides on the back of advanced manufacturing.
Backward and forward linkages are also stronger in manufacturing than other sectors. From growing and harnessing raw materials, to processing, treatment, packaging, transporting, repackaging, storage, distribution etc, all of these are actors in the value chain anchored on manufacturing. Subsequently, the spillover effects of manufacturing activity are stronger compared to other sectors. These effects spread between other sectors as well.
Lastly, when per capita income rises, the share of expenditure on manufactured goods increases. In contrast, in the context of total expenditure, the share of agriculture expenditure decreases due to low income elasticity. By this I mean, if the household income changes, the demand for certain products drops. Essentially, countries that rely on agriculture will need to industrialize in order to profit from expanding to local and global markets.
Some have argued that expenditure on services does grow, as per capita income increases, akin to manufacturing. Contrary to the case in manufacturing, the growth of expenditure here is only as a result of increased income but not increased productivity. Manufacturing will guarantee the latter and in the long run will offer more sustainability in terms of economic growth.
These are just a few examples on why many countries focus their resource and investment towards growing the manufacturing sector.
It only makes sense that Manufacturing is one of the Big 4 pillars, but in order to truly realize our economic goals, our focus in manufacturing must be long-term and centered in all our development plans henceforth.
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The writer is the CEO of Kenya Association of Manufacturers and the UN Global Compact Network Representative for Kenya. She can be reached at ceo@kam.co.ke
