Hott: Africa must not miss out on green industrial revolution

The Africa Investment Forum is currently underway in Marrakech, focusing on unlocking Africa's value chains and advancing projects towards financial closure. CNBC Africa's Kenneth Igbomor had the opportunity to speak with Amadou Hott, Special Envoy at the Alliance for Green Infrastructure, about the crucial role Africa can play in the green industrial revolution. Hott emphasized Africa's potential across various sectors, particularly in agriculture and mining, where the continent can become a key player in transforming critical minerals for the global energy transition. He highlighted the cost advantages of building lithium batteries in Africa for electric vehicles, stressing the need for all stakeholders, including governments, multilateral development banks, and the private sector, to collaborate in driving these transformations. As Africa seeks to develop and compete in emerging industries, such as renewable energy, Hott underscored the importance of scaling up projects to meet the continent's growing needs and surpass expectations. He emphasized the critical role of skills development, especially for the youth, in science and technology to align with the job market demands of the future. Hott praised successful models like the pure tech university in Rwanda, where students have high job placement rates even before completing their education. He called for a shift in education focus towards preparing the workforce for the green industrial revolution to ensure Africa's competitiveness and leadership in the evolving economy.