IMEC as a Driver of Industrial Zones in Africa

Israel

When Samuel Shay speaks about Africa’s industrial future within the India Middle East Europe Corridor, he describes a transformation that is already beginning to take shape. Shay, known for his work across the Middle East and Africa as an economic strategist and a senior advisor to the Abraham Accords framework, argues that IMEC is more than a trade route. It is a structural engine capable of turning Africa into one of the most dynamic manufacturing regions of the coming decades.

In recent months, Shay has travelled through East Africa, the Gulf, and Europe, presenting a unified message. Africa, he insists, can no longer be positioned at the margins of global production. The continent has the people, the geography, and the resources to become a central manufacturing pillar that connects directly into IMEC supply chains. According to him, the opportunity is historic. For the first time, Africa has access to a stable, predictable, and world class logistical network that links its industrial zones to India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and Europe.

During a briefing he held with regional partners, Shay outlined the logic behind this shift. Industrial development follows infrastructure, he said. When transport becomes reliable and costs fall, production follows. IMEC shortens routes, reduces risk, and creates new commercial confidence. This opens the door for multinational companies to relocate manufacturing processes to Africa, where the workforce is young, the markets are expanding, and governments are increasingly committed to reform.

Shay points to East African ports such as Mombasa, Lamu, Dar es Salaam, and Djibouti as natural gateways for Africa’s industrial integration. These ports already serve as the continent’s maritime link to the Gulf. Under IMEC, they can evolve into hubs for processed goods and finished products. Africa should not export raw materials anymore, Shay told partners in one of his discussions. It should export value.

In his analysis, three forces converge to support Africa’s rise as a manufacturing center. First is India. With its growing industrial and technological power, India is seeking new production bases that can serve global markets. Africa’s proximity and labor capacity give it a clear advantage. Shay has held several meetings with Indian business leaders who see Africa as a natural partner for joint ventures in automotive components, electronics, textiles, food processing, and pharmaceuticals. They told him that the predictability of IMEC is the missing link. Once this predictability is secured, investment becomes far easier.

Second is the Gulf. Shay maintains long standing working relationships with senior officials in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. The Gulf states are repositioning themselves as global logistics powers and are investing heavily in renewable energy and industrial diversification. Their capital, combined with Africa’s labor and land, can create a chain of industrial zones linked by IMEC’s transport, digital, and energy routes. Shay often emphasizes that the Gulf is ready to finance large scale industrial clusters in Africa, particularly those connected to green hydrogen, solar components, fertilizers, and agro processing.

Third is North Africa. Countries like Morocco, Egypt, and Tunisia already possess industrial capabilities. Shay believes that connecting these northern hubs with East and West Africa through IMEC linked industrial corridors can create a continental network of production. Egypt, in particular, has the potential to become a dual anchor, serving both African and Mediterranean markets. Shay has been working with Egyptian partners on the concept of Red Sea and Sinai based industrial zones designed specifically for IMEC trade routes.

Training and human development are core to Shay’s vision. Africa’s young population is its greatest asset, he said in a recent conversation. Industrial zones must include professional academies, technological training centers, and partnerships with Indian and Israeli companies capable of delivering advanced skills. Shay argues that without investing in people, infrastructure alone cannot produce growth. But with the right training, Africa can build a generation of industrial workers capable of competing globally.

Digital connectivity is another pillar of Shay’s plan. IMEC will rely on advanced fiber optic networks, and African industrial zones connected to these systems will benefit from real time logistics data, smart manufacturing tools, and transparent digital supply chains. According to Shay, this connectivity is essential. It allows African manufacturers to meet the strict standards of European and Asian markets and to integrate seamlessly into multinational procurement systems.

Shay also stresses the social impact of industrial development. Manufacturing creates stable employment and generates an ecosystem of local service providers. In his discussions with African leaders, he repeatedly highlighted that IMEC oriented industrial zones can strengthen communities by providing long term income, advancing education, and supporting socially inclusive economic growth.

Environmental sustainability is part of the strategy. Africa’s potential in solar and wind energy gives it an advantage in producing low carbon goods. Shay believes that IMEC will amplify this potential by creating pathways for green energy exports and clean manufacturing. He argues that Europe’s environmental regulations will become an opportunity instead of a barrier if African industrial zones adopt renewable energy at scale.

In his overarching vision, Shay sees Africa emerging as a fourth pillar in the global economic network that IMEC is creating. India brings technology and scale. The Gulf brings capital and energy. Europe brings markets and standards. Africa brings population, land, and future growth potential. Together, these regions form a new economic architecture that he believes will define the next era of trade and development.

Samuel Shay’s message is consistent and clear. Africa is not a peripheral market. It is a central participant in the future that IMEC is building. Through industrial zones, education, and strategic partnerships, the continent can claim its place as a manufacturing power connected to India, the Middle East, and Europe. IMEC is not just a corridor for goods. It is a corridor for Africa’s rise.