Global manufacturers are increasingly diversifying production beyond China as geopolitical tensions, rising costs and supply-chain disruptions reshape decades-old investment strategies. Rather than abandoning China altogether, companies are adopting “China Plus One” models that spread manufacturing across multiple countries, creating new opportunities for emerging production hubs. Supporters argue that these advantages could allow African economies to capture more manufacturing investment and move beyond their historic role as exporters of raw materials. The African Continental Free Trade Area could strengthen the continent’s position by helping transform fragmented national markets into larger regional manufacturing and supply-chain ecosystems. Watch the full Breakdown episode for a deeper analysis of whether Africa can capitalize on the restructuring of global manufacturing and become a major production center in the decades ahead.