The region’s high labour and capital costs present a serious challenge to its competitiveness.

Advances in production technology and a trend towards shorter supply chains make a return to “business as usual” highly unlikely.

COVID-19 crisis offers opportunities to foster industrialization by building synergies between policy areas such as healthcare and industry.

As most countries experience COVID-19 related lockdowns, there are concerns about both the present and the future of global supply chains. 

Integration of manufacturing firms in global value chains offers opportunities for countries to raise employment, exports and productivity.

The pandemic-induced crisis will have severe impacts on household incomes and industries in the region and requires swift policy actions. 

The pandemic is a reminder that investments in scientific, technological and productive capacities are necessary to build resilience in crises. 

The pandemic is causing massive disruptions to flows of foreign direct investments. Developing countries are likely to be hit the hardest. 

Innovation can provide swift remedies to the COVID-19 linked recession. Policy should contain incentives to innovate in the long-term.

The recovery of supply chains can be supported through trade policies and firm-specific initiatives.

Women’s specific needs and potential as leaders and agents of change must be considered for COVID-19 mitigation and recovery measures.

COVID-19 stimulus packages must carry energy efficiency incentives to help industries and economies rebound.

Resolute policy action is required to sustain productive capacity and mitigate supply and demand shocks.

Policy responses to COVID-19 need to manage short-term effects of the pandemic while setting conditions for economic recovery.

Automation and reshoring mitigate risks. Industrial policies aiming to reduce dependence on global supply chains could accelerate the trend.

COVID-19 struck at the core of GVC hub regions, with severe implications for international production networks.

Policy actions and coordination will be crucial in mitigating the impacts of the global pandemic on industry.

UAE has made headways with efforts to diversify its oil-driven economy and now aims to break into high-tech manufacturing.

The East Asian Miracle provides crucial lessons for developing countries on export-oriented manufacturing growth.

Production became fragmented into networks across many locations, with implications for industrial development.

Individual country experiences point to differences in Global Value Chains participation since the mid-1990s.