(a) Characteristics of manufacturing Industries in Tropical African Countries: (i) Concentrated in towns.
(ii) Mainly import substituting. (iii) Depend on imported machinery/technology. (iv) Mainly light industries.
(v) Labour intensive. (vi) Production of consumer goods (vii) Products mainly consumed internally.
(viii) Mainly small-scale industries. (ix) Some raw materials are imported.
(x) Dominated by foreign multi-national corporations. (xi) Provision of alternative power supply.
(b) Problems of manufacturing industries in my country:
(i) Inadequate capital.
(ii) Shortage of raw materials.
(iii) Poor infrastructure / Inadequate transport/Communication facilities.
(iv) Competition from foreign goods / Smuggling.
(v) Inadequate power supply (vi) Political instability. (vii) Low purchasing power
(viii) Shortage of skilled labour / Technical know-how. (ix) Poor management (x) Preference for foreign goods.
(xi) High cost of production. (xii) Small market for industrial goods. (xiii) High cost of spare parts.
(xiv) Restriction of foreign exchange. (xv) Labour unrest.
(xvi) High taxation / tariffs. (xvii) Shortage of entrepreneurs. (xviii) Poor quality of industrial labour.