INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Green Technology
Sub-Saharan countries embracing digital economy to boost competitiveness and promote green initiatives
Leading African economies that have struggled to improve their infrastructure , business conditions and overall competitiveness are generally performing better against other emerging markets in areas that measure their digital skills and sustainability . That ’ s one of the findings of the 2022 Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index , a ranking of the world ’ s 50 leading emerging markets .
Kenya ranks number 28 in the overall Index but is 17th in digital readiness . South Africa , number 24 overall and is 21st in digital readiness . Likewise , Ghana is 32 nd overall and 23 rd in digital readiness .
DIGITAL READINESS ASSESSES DIGITAL SKILLS , TRAINING , INTERNET ACCESS , E-COMMERCE GROWTH , INVESTMENT CLIMATE , AND ABILITY TO NURTURE START-UPS , AS WELL AS SUSTAINABILITY FACTORS SUCH AS RENEWABLE ENERGY MIX , LOWER EMISSIONS INTENSITY AND GREEN INITIATIVES .
The Index , now in its thirteenth year , ranks countries for overall competitiveness based on their logistics strengths , business climates and , for the first time , their digital readiness – all factors that make them attractive to logistics providers , freight forwarders , air and ocean carriers , distributors and investors .
The Index includes a survey of 756 supply chain industry professionals .
Digital readiness assesses digital skills , training , Internet access , e-commerce growth , investment climate , and ability to nurture start-ups , as well as sustainability factors such as renewable energy mix , lower emissions intensity and green initiatives .
“ The connection between a country ’ s digital capabilities and growth prospects is undeniable ,” said Tarek Sultan , CEO , Agility .
“ The competitiveness of emerging markets countries will be determined by their ability to develop digitally skilled businesses and talent pools and find the resolve to lower their emissions in ways that spur growth rather than sacrificing it .”
The importance of digital readiness was apparent in the survey . Logistics executives identified adoption of technology as the leading driver of economic and business growth for emerging markets . The top focus areas for their companies are technology and sustainability .
In addition to performing relatively well in digital readiness , Ghana improved its year-to-year rankings in international logistics infrastructure ( to 37th from 45th ); domestic logistics infrastructure ( to 36th from 38th ); and business fundamentals ( to 28th from 32nd ).
“ The industry ’ s optimism reflects the fact that emerging economies are getting more resilient and figuring out ways to weather supply chain disruption ,” Sultan said . “ If emerging markets can get better access to vaccines and give small business a boost , they can help power a broad , dynamic global recovery .” p
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