This book makes very important contributions to the discourse of an important theoretical concept: the notion of structural transformation. It uses a rich data set and sound theoretical framing to explain the variety of ways in which structural transformation relates to employment, industrialization, productivity growth, urbanization and poverty reduction. It enriches the debate on how societies are transformed from agrarian economic structures to modern industrial structures, and more significantly the attainment of sustainable social and economic development.

Another important set of analytical findings coming out of this book is the establishment of an explicit relationship between the manufacturing capacities of nations and the eventual transition to high- value services. While the emergent Fourth Industrial Revolution seems to be blurring the boundaries of the three key sectors, namely, agriculture, industry and services, the author demonstrates the inevitable acquisition of manufacturing capacity as a necessary condition for sustainable structural transformation. Clearly, the rate of growth of manufacturing and value added does not just undergird economic growth; it is a strong prerequisite for mastering industrial agriculture and services sectors.

The book shows that while both agriculture and manufacturing value added (MVA) and exports are important drivers of real economic growth, Africa's participation in the global market of manufactures is negligible when compared to other developing countries. Its contribution to continental gross domestic product (GDP), which stands at 11 percent, represents lower ratios than those of other developing regions such as East Asia and Pacific (23 percent of GDP) or South Asia (16 percent of GDP) (African Economic Outlook, 2017).

Not surprisingly, the impact of MVA on real economic growth has been weaker than that of services in Africa. In other words, not only has industrialization not taken a firm root in the region, but sub- Saharan Africa has also been skipping the manufacturing phase of development. The central message of this book is that Africa is unlikely to witness shared and inclusive economic growth and development without industrialization.

Fortunately, over the last decade, industrialization has been back on Africa’s economic policy agenda. The leadership of the region understands the imperative of industrialization, with at least half of African countries having put industrialization policies in place. What these countries seem to understand is that for as long as they lack industrial capabilities, there will be no breaking away from the dependency on commodities.