Dynamic Of Industrialization Of Small Economies

This research entitled the “Dynamic of Industrialization of Small Economies: Case of Cameroon” deeply analyses the forces that need to be taken into consideration to witness a real boost of the industrial activities within the small economies of developing countries.Industrialization is the foundation of the economic development of a nation.Industries had actively participated in the economic development of advanced countries like the United Kingdom,the United States of America,Japan,and also of some developing economies such as the Asian Tigers and the BRICS's countries(namely: Brazil,Russia,India,China and South Africa).Industrial development)is weighted to be a catapult of growth as it can generate income,employment hence contributing to the growth of the gross domestic product of a given economy.Since this sector can deeply influence other key sectors of the national economy like the agriculture and the services sectors,therefore,it appears extremely important for small economies,as the emergent and advanced nations had done in the past decades or centuries,to also step into their real industrialization golden age.The small and developing economy that represents Cameroon is more than concerned by this due to its astounding lateness in its industrial development.After a deep review of the main theories on industrialization,this thesis analyzes the case of Cameroon,a country bestowed with abundant agricultural,natural,mineral and forest resources to just name a few.Most of the country's resources are still undeveloped,and these constitute an important factor for its industrialization.Other production inputs such as labor,capital and technology need to be explored as their contribution is critical for the development of industries.The industrialization of Cameroon is circumscribed from the earlier twentieth century till today,when the Government is working toward a new Industrial Master Plan.Nevertheless,the current Cameroonian industrial sector is dominated by two sorts of industries: the agro-industry and the mining industry.Since the mining sector is not significantly developed,the country's manufacturing sector is essentially characterized by the agro-manufacturing.A close look at the agro-industry in Cameroon helps to advance the research related to the resource-based industrialization in the field of development studies in small economies which are mainly developing countries.To reach the objectives of this research,both secondary and primary data are analyzed.Taking Cameroon as a case of a small economy,the present research analyzes its industrial development since even before the independence in 1960 and prospects of its industrialization based on the agro-industrial development.The research gives more attention to the agro-industry in Cameroon because of the importance of this industry for the whole industrial sector.Also,it is more or less a player in green industrialization compared to other industries like the mining industry.The study classifies the agro-industry into six major sectors or manufacturing industries(sub-industries): the beverage industry,the food industry(including all food items),the rubber industry(including the rubber products),the textile industry(including the leather and leather manufactures,clothing,textile yarn and related products),the tobacco industry(also including related tobacco manufactures)and the wood industry(including wood products like wood manufactures,paper manufactures,furniture,cork,paper and printing).This analysis of the Cameroonian agro-industry takes into consideration the ownership of production plants,the source of capital,the origins of inputs,the source of the know-how and technology and finally the export share of the products.The look into agro-industry in this study reveals that,the food sub-industry dominates the sector.The industry is diversely capitalized by both local and foreign investments.The industry employs a very high range of people.The presence of both local and foreign investors in the industry leads to the duality of the analysis.The research presents the differences in the capitalization,in the size of the manufacturing enterprises,in the share of the production that is exported,in the export destinations,as well as the origins of technology.The acquisition of technology in the Cameroonian agro-industry is examined.The data gathered illustrate the critical ability for Cameroonian agro-industrial enterprises to develop technology locally.Very limited technological innovation is carried out in the Cameroonian agro-industry.The conclusion provides specific ideas as recommendations for the integration of technologically attractive regulations in the industrial policies.The objective of stimulating a more dynamic industrialization can be met via a more enhanced innovation system that puts the agro-industry at the center of attention.This research provides empirical evidence of the importance of the agro-industry in Cameroon as a backbone of its industrialization dynamic.Known as a country rich in natural resources,Cameroon still witnesses the exportation of most of its commodities without any value-added in terms of domestic processing.The policies are recommended in order to make boost the agro-industry,thus making the whole industry in Cameroon more productive and dynamic.This research concludes by giving as the main recommendations: industrial policy should encourage the technological development locally,more incentives to be made to attract more foreign capital,restrictions to be imposed on the export of raw material.The Government should encourage the creation of more processing industries.‘‘Made in Cameroon'' will be widely known and be more consistent.