Take a look at the world’s richest countries. Whether it’s Singapore, South Korea, Germany or Japan, they all have one thing in common: they built strong industries before becoming high income economies.

The Road to Singapore report says Kenya must do the same. Instead of relying mainly on exporting raw materials, the country should expand manufacturing and produce more finished goods. This creates jobs, increases exports and keeps more wealth within the country.

Think about it this way. A farmer grows cotton, but a factory turns that cotton into clothes. The factory needs engineers, machine operators, transport companies, electricians and marketers. One industry creates opportunities for thousands of people.

The report identifies manufacturing and industrialisation as one of the key pillars of Kenya’s long term transformation. It recommends investing in industries such as agro-processing, textiles, pharmaceuticals, machinery and other value adding sectors that can compete in regional and global markets.

Singapore and South Korea were once developing countries with limited natural resources. They became economic powerhouses by building competitive industries, investing in skills and supporting businesses to manufacture products for the world.

The Road to Singapore report argues that Kenya can achieve similar success. By building strong industries, the country can create better paying jobs, grow exports and reduce its dependence on imported goods. A strong industrial sector is not just good for business. It is one of the foundations of a prosperous First World Kenya.