CAPE TOWN – Drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) could help to overcome poor transport infrastructure, as only one-third of Africans live within 2 kilometers of an all-weather road. Making sure that the remaining two-thirds have access to decent roads will cost more than $50 billion (R736.4bn) and take several years, which is why Africa has been a pioneer in using drones for peaceful civilian use. Timothy Reuter, Head of Aerospace and Drones at the World Economic Forum was part of a panel discussion on unleashing the drone economy at…
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How to turn Africa’s manufacturing sector into a high-tech powerhouse
Africa is one of the most exciting and potentially dynamic markets in the world, increasingly capturing the attention of the world’s largest businesses. Strong economic growth, increasing regional economic integration and diversification, untapped natural resources, high access to mobile technology and a young, entrepreneurial demographic – these drivers have the potential to ensure that many markets in Africa will be capable of not just taking advantage of the Fourth Industrial Revolution but leapfrogging it. Good governance, investment protection laws, ease of doing business, regulatory systems: these factors and others, if guaranteed, should…
Read MoreClimate change a ‘serious potential threat to Africa’ – SA’s Ramaphosa
JOHANNESBURG – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa says climate change poses a serious potential threat to Africa’s development and prosperity and has urged countries to develop future-proof economic growth models. Ramaphosa told a session on climate change chaired by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres at the 7th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Yokohama, Japan that South Africa was working towards implementing the Sendai Framework while ensuring its appropriate integration with the broader climate change and sustainable development agenda. The framework is a 15-year, voluntary, non-binding agreement which…
Read MoreAfrica is ‘new frontier of economic growth’, Ramaphosa tells G7 leaders
President Cyril Ramaphosa has told world leaders that Africa is the “new frontier of economic growth and development”, as he seeks to boost inbound investment to kick-start SA’s sluggish GDP growth rate. Ramaphosa was speaking at the G7 and Africa Partnership taking place in Biarritz, France. SA was invited to attend the conference by President Emmanuel Macron of France. In an address Ramaphosa said that the adoption by 55 countries of the the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement was a “important milestone”. “This free trade area is now the…
Read MoreMobile phones are replacing bank accounts in Africa
It doesn’t look like the hub of an online bank. But that’s what the yellow and blue metal kiosk becomes when Albert Agane locks himself behind the metal bars every day at 6am. From his perch along a dusty suburban thoroughfare in Accra, the 28-year-old helps fellow Ghanaians withdraw or deposit cash for accounts they operate from their mobile phones. All they need do is text. Mobile money is the fastest-growing source of income for wireless-network operators like MTN and Vodafone’s Safaricom unit, outpacing data since many Africans don’t have…
Read MoreBotswana: The Dubai of Africa
JOHANNESBURG- “Democracy, like a little plant, does not grow or develop on its own. It must be nursed and nurtured if it is to grow and flourish. It must be believed in and practised if it is to be appreciated. And it must be fought for and defended if it is to survive”. – Seretse Khama, the first president of Botswana. Botswana is an inland country bordered by South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, mostly dominated by the rigid Kalahari Desert, covering 70percent of the country’s total land area. Water…
Read MoreAfrica economic performance looks promising as oil markets recover – report
JOHANNESBURG- The outlook for Africa’s economic performance is promising, particularly as global oil markets finally recover from their 2015-2016 lows, a report released by Africa Oil Week and Menas Associates says. Africa Oil Week, which will run in November in Cape Town, is the leading oil and gas event for the continent, with over 1,500 key executives attending from around the world to broker new deals. In a statement, organisers of the conference cited experts who predicted that 2019 and beyond would see deep offshore exploration and mega gas…
Read MoreGlobal scientists root for digital tools to transform Africa’s farming
INTERNATIONAL – African governments should enact policies that facilitate adoption of technologies and innovations required to transform small-holder farming, international scientists said on Monday. Athula Ginige, professor of information technology at Western Sydney University, said that a digital revolution holds key to enhanced productivity of African agriculture amid rising demand for food. “We need to connect African farmers with technologies that can improve how they produce food at a time when population growth and climate change have escalated hunger and nutrition deficiencies in the continent,” Ginige said at a…
Read MoreGrowth of Halaal industry in Africa creates trade and business opportunities
JOHANNESBURG – The explosive growth of the Halaal industry in Africa is creating many trade and business opportunities in the food, pharmaceuticals, personal care, cosmetics and tourism industries, organisers of an upcoming trade show said on Friday. The Global Trade Show (GTS) will run on July 29-31 in Midrand, with the South African National Halaal Authority (SANHA) among a growing number of Halaal organisations supporting it. South Africa is a leading producer of Halaal products worldwide, despite its relatively small Muslim population. “GTS attracts participants from around the world,” said Anina…
Read MoreAfrican education system not aligned to economic needs – Ramaphosa
JOHANNESBURG – African economies are unable to absorb a significant proportion of young people because the education system is not aligned to needs, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday. In a speech prepared for delivery at the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) annual policy dialogue forum on secondary education, Ramaphosa said the continent’s demographic dividend would only be earned through investment in youth, its highest-yielding resource. Africa has a large proportion of young people who constitute about a fifth of all people under 25 years…
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