Page 18 - Logistics News - Issue 01 - 2024.indd

S UP P LY CH AIN

Infrastructure and onshoring SSA, rich in resources, has a competitive advantage
Addressing historical infrastructure challenges in SSA, such as in the global supply chain as the heavy reliance on
port inefficiencies, requires intentional and collaborative efforts. exports from the region continues to yield demand
Ongoing supply chain efforts to develop infrastructure, invest across trade borders. As digitisation and automation
in free zones and establish manufacturing and processing continue to grow in 2024, the supply chain industry
hubs will enhance onshoring ventures across the continent. will continue to work towards building harmonious and
Integrated logistics frameworks are essential and not only offer optimised trade flows, propelling the African continent’s
business benefits like cost savings, but also bring job creation overall growth.
and underscore intra-African trade opportunities.
The 2024 Trade in Transition report, commissioned
Technology as a driver by DP World and led by Economist Impact, reinforces
The digitisation of the supply chain will be an ongoing trend this outlook, with almost 30 percent of regional surveyed
in SSA, empowering the region to overcome historical business leaders anticipating that Africa will emerge as
infrastructure challenges and ushering in a new era of business. the third-largest market in 2024, trailing only Europe and
Africa’s growing youth population positions the continent as an North America. The report highlights new trade pacts,
ideal market for global players, with e-commerce acting as the predictions of increased intra-African trade and executives’
catalyst. In addition, artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet commitment to integrating technology to bolster supply
of Things (IoT) will enable end-to-end visibility for customers chains and gain real-time insights. This aligns with ongoing
and provide businesses with data for predicting disruptions and efforts to fortify SSA’s supply chains, ensuring they remain
making insights-driven decisions, including on production and resilient, sustainable and integral to the global trade
transport capacity. landscape. •

16 I S S UE 01 – 2024 www .l o g ist i csn e w s .c o .z a