(a)Highlight three characteristics of manufacturing industries in Tropical Africa. (b) State three was by which manufacturing industries contribute to the economic development of 'Tropical Africa. (c) Outline four problems facing industrial developments in Tropical Africa.
Explanation
(a) Characteristics of manufacturing, industries in Tropical Africa : (i) mainly small scale/little turnover. (ii) mainly import substitution. (iii) production of consumer goods. (iv) concentrated in towns (v) depend on imported machinery/technology. (vi) dominated by foreign multinational corporations (vii) products are mainly consumed internally (viii) labour intensive (ix) Rely on imported labour (x) mainly light industries (xi) depend on foreign raw materials (xii) local sourcing of raw materials. (xiii) few are government owned and individual/family group owned. (xiv) transfer of technology. (xv) boost international image. (xvi) less capital intensive. (b)Ways by which manufacturing industries contribute to the economic development of Tropical Africa: (i) Revenue to government. (ii) Income to workers/investors. (iii) conservation of foreign exchange. (iy) Diversification of the economy. (Y) Provision of infrastructure. (vi) Provision of goods. (vii) Employment opportunities. (viii) Stimulation of other sectors of the economy/growth of allied industries (ix) Favourable balance of trade. (x) Foreign exchange generation. (xi) Increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (xii) improves standard of living. (xiii) Manpower development/skill development. (xiv) Funding of education and research. (xv) Development of towns. (xvi) Control initiation. (xvii) Reduce dependence on imports. (xviii) Provision of social amenities. (xix) Attracts foreign investments. (c) Problems facing industrial developments in Tropical Africa: (i) Political instability/poor governance (ii) Poor transportation. (iii) Poor communication facilities. (iv) Inadequate capital/high interest rate/poor funding (v) Insufficient raw materials. (vi) Inadequate /erratic power supply (vii) Shortage of investors/entrepreneurs. (viii) Competition from foreign goods/preference for foreign goods. (ix) Small markets/low purchasing power/low per capital income (x) Poor management. (xi) Inadequate skilled labour/poor quality skilled labour. (xii) Labour unrest. (xiii) i i) I taxation/tariff (xiv) Inconsistent government policy. (xv) Low level of technology. (xvi) Smuggling /sabotage. (xvii) Poor maintenance culture. (xviii) flight cost of spate parts. (xix) Land ownership problems. (xx) High cost of production. (xxi) High rate of inflation (xxii) Difficulty in sourcing foreign exchange.
