Global semiconductor sales reached $702 billion in the first half of 2026, up 102% from a year earlier, according to World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS). Africa still accounts for only a small share of the fast-growing market, but several countries are seeking a foothold in the value chain. From Egypt to Kenya, initiatives span chip design, packaging, testing, research and production.
From Industrial Packaging to Chip Design
Morocco has one of the continent's most established semiconductor operations. STMicroelectronics operates a packaging and testing facility in Bouskoura that employs about 3,100 people. The site serves customers in the automotive and industrial markets, among others.
STMicroelectronics describes Bouskoura as a chip packaging and testing facility, placing Morocco in the later stages of semiconductor manufacturing rather than wafer fabrication. The site handles processes needed to package and test chips before they are integrated into finished products.
Egypt has focused more on design and engineering services. On May 25, 2026, the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) and the Export Development Fund added electronics design, semiconductor, embedded systems and mobile-related services to the national export incentives program.
The program will run for seven years starting in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Incentives will be tied to export growth and job creation, according to ITIDA. The agency says Egypt is home to more than 86 local and multinational companies active in electronics and embedded systems design. It does not specify how many work directly on integrated circuits.
Nigeria is also seeking to build chip-design expertise. In October 2025, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and U.S.-based ChipMango unveiled a national framework for microchip design, according to BusinessDay.
The framework rests on three pillars: capacity building, outsourcing and policy alignment. Like Egypt, Nigeria is initially focusing on developing the skills and design capabilities needed to participate in the semiconductor industry before the manufacturing stage.
Read more: ecofin agency
