Disruptions to global supply chains in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic

Apr 20, 2024 09:30 AM

In our second podcast episode we have a look at supply chain disruptions and african-european relations. The Covid-19 pandemic has uncovered the weakness of global supply chains. It also put a heavy spotlight on the international dependence on China: The sudden halt in supply in the People's Republic in the early days of the pandemic has caused trouble for many industries. Some products, especially in the medical sector were scarce - like ventilators or masks – the prices of many others increased heavily. Some governments were shocked by these developments. So they asked and even gave incentives to bring production home. That’s the western version of the pandemics' effects on supply chains. In our second episode of the podcast Shaping Sustainable Supply Chains we talk about the African view on the developments. Moderator Nicolas Martin wants to know how Dr. Bernice McLean assesses the situation. Bernice McLean is located in Johannesburg. She is a Supervisor of the Industrialisation Divison of the African Union Development Agency - NEPAD. Joining the discussion from Berlin is Dr. Melanie Müller. She is a senior associate with a focus on Southern Africa and head of a research project on transnational approaches for sustainable commodity supply chains at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP).