According to a recent report by Deloitte, the African continent will become a high growth region for the packaging industry. It could be attributed to the increase in local markets for consumer, burgeoning incomes and an expanding youth market. Speaking at the Packaging and Beyond Africa Innovation Conference in Johannesburg 2015, Roy Campbell, Partner and Manufacturing Industry: Forestry, Paper & Packaging Sector Leader at Deloitte, said that International Monetary Fund forecasts predicts growth of 6.5% p.a. over the next five years in East and West Africa, putting the two regions on par with the fastest growing regions of mainland China and emerging Asia!
Although there are still risks attached to investment in Africa, the IMF also expects 15 African countries to grow faster than China. One of the primary factors behind this high growth rate is that this is generally off a relatively small GDP base and that Africa has youth on its side. Already, 25% of the world’s under 18’s are found in Africa.

“Contrary to some commonly held perceptions, African growth will not be primarily driven by commodities. Eight of the twelve fastest- growing economies in Africa don’t rely on natural resources for their prosperity” – Roy Campbell, Sector Leader, Deloitte

This figure, due to grow to 50% by 2100, guarantees growing consumer markets, demands for products and therefore increased opportunities for the packaging industry that serves the manufacturing and consumer sectors.
Would the demand for automation, labelling, marking and coding products drive to job losses in our Industry? According to an article written by Rachel Nuwer, for the BBC, examining this question begins with the realisation that technology, innovation and shifting cultural norms have always fuelled a turnover in workforce composition. Machines have been taking our jobs for centuries.

“Market economies are never sitting still, Industries rise and fall, products and services change – and that’s been going on for a very long time.” – David Autor, a professor of economics at MIT
It all comes down to efficiency. As certain jobs are lost through automation, new professions within the industry are created, opening an opportunity to develop and deliver better quality products. We should be ever positive to the fact that while automation improves the marking, labelling and coding market, our time can be spent focusing on meeting demand through other roles within the industry.