Publication: Transforming Africa: The Information and Communication Technology Revolution
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2019-07-12
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Abstract
The Internet and mobile phones are transforming the commercial landscape
in Africa. The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector is now
positioned to promote innovation, job creation and boost the export potential of
African companies. In recent years, a greater number of the 54 African countries
have been embracing technology as the driver. Africa is a continent in a digital
e-transition. The rise of the middle-class is fueling consumer growth and according to
a study by the McKinsey Global Institute, the Internet will generate African economic
growth and social transformation particularly in the following six sectors: Financial
services; Education; Health; Retail; Agriculture; and Government. In the Financial
sector, McKinsey pointed out that M-Pesa’s mobile money solutions have brought
millions of Kenyans into the financial grid for the first time. In the area of Health
care, remote diagnostics are expanding medical services to rural areas that have few
healthcare professionals. In Education, students are beginning to learn with new
digital education tools, and e-government initiatives are connecting citizens with
government services. Technology-related productivity gains in these, other sectors
could reach $148 billion to $318 billion by 2025, and large African populations stand
to benefit as a result. This presentation will discuss the progress and future of ICT in
Africa and discuss how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from different
business sectors can make use of ICT opportunities.
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Transforming, ICT, Revolution