Technology/Science
Covid-19 is Changing the way African Countries are Collaborating with Each Othe By Carlos Mureithi
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC presents opportunities for the economic transformation of Africa through innovation, digitalization, and regional collaboration, but countries need policies to enable this, a new think-tank report says. The pandemic could make businesses in Africa adopt digital-first operating models and make the continent’s manufacturing sector resume focus on innovation, local production, and self-reliance, says the report by the Accra-based African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), an economic policy institute. “These three areas we’ve identified are binding constraints that if tackled together and effectively across boarders could create a real opportunity for transforming the economy to generate the employment and income we desperately need
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and also to enable us to compete globally,” Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi, the executive vice president of ACET, tells Quartz. This latest report by the institute looks at the need for African countries to pursue greater economic integration to transform the continent, focusing on creating jobs for young people, fostering digital innovation, and managing climate risks. ACET conducts research and analysis, advises policymakers, conducts advocacy, outreach, and convening with the aim of enhancing the ability of African governments and private sector to transform economies. Innovation is increasing in Africa Digitalization, innovation, and regional collaboration trends are increasing in the continent, and they could have the lasting impact of changing people’s mentality to using online and DAWN
www.africabusinessassociation.org
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