{"id":135174,"date":"2026-01-26T13:49:32","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T18:49:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/professional\/insights\/regional-analysis\/realizing-africas-digital-potential\/"},"modified":"2026-01-26T13:49:50","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T18:49:50","slug":"realizing-africas-digital-potential","status":"publish","type":[3762],"link":"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/professional\/insights\/regional-analysis\/realizing-africas-digital-potential\/","title":{"rendered":"Realizing Africa\u2019s digital potential"},"content":{"rendered":"<div  class=\"bbg-row-container\">\n    <section class=\"bbg-row  text--black row-padding--top-compact row-padding--bottom-none bbg-row--full-bg-bleed\" data-anchor='row-6a0923f942c68'>\n        \n        \n        <div\n            class=\"bbg-row--content\"\n                    >\n            \n            <p><div\n    class=\"bbg-column bbg-column--width-7\"\n    style=\"\"\n    >\n    <p><div\n    class=\"bbg-spacer bbg-spacer--lg\"\n    >\n<\/div><div\n\tclass=\"bb-wysiwyg\"\n\t\t>\n\t<p class=\"small\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 1px; color: #0062dd;\">ARTICLE<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<div\n    class=\"bbg-spacer bbg-spacer--sm\"\n    >\n<\/div>    <h1 class=\"bbg-metadata bbg-metadata--title\">Realizing Africa\u2019s digital potential<\/h1>\n<div\n    class=\"bbg-spacer\"\n        style=\"height: 50px !important\"\n    >\n<\/div>    <ul class=\"bbg-categories_list\">\n                    <li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/professional\/insights\/category\/markets\/\" rel=\"category tag\">\n                    Markets\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n                    <li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/professional\/insights\/category\/regional-analysis\/\" rel=\"category tag\">\n                    Regional Analysis\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n<\/p>\n\n<\/div><div\n    class=\"bbg-column bbg-column--width-5\"\n    style=\"\"\n    >\n    <div id=\"\" class=\"wpb_content_element bbg-single-image align-left\">\n    <figure class=\"bbg-single-image__figure\" style=\"max-width:100%\">\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"801\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.bbhub.io\/image\/v1\/resize?width=auto&amp;type=webp&amp;url=https:\/\/assets.bbhub.io\/professional\/sites\/41\/Johannesburg-night-view.jpg\" class=\"bbg-single-image__image attachment-full\" alt=\"Johannesburg night aerial view\" title=\"Johannesburg night aerial view\" \/>\n        \n            <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n<div  class=\"bbg-row-container\">\n    <section class=\"bbg-row  text--black row-padding--top-none row-padding--bottom-none bbg-row--full-bg-bleed\" data-anchor='row-6a0923f95042b'>\n        \n        \n        <div\n            class=\"bbg-row--content\"\n                    >\n            \n            <p><div\n    class=\"bbg-column bbg-column--width-2\"\n    style=\"\"\n    >\n    \n<\/div><div\n    class=\"bbg-column bbg-column--width-6 bbg-column--m-width-6\"\n    style=\"\"\n    >\n    <p>    <p class=\"bbg-metadata bbg-metadata--date\">January 26, 2026<\/p>\n<div\n\tclass=\"bb-wysiwyg\"\n\t\t>\n\t<p><strong>Bloomberg Professional Services<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div><div\n    class=\"bbg-column bbg-column--width-2 bbg-column--valign-middle bbg-column--m-width-2 bbg-column--s-padding-right-2\"\n    style=\"\"\n    >\n    <div class=\"bb-tts\"\n\tdata-selector=\"main\"\n\tdata-label=\"Speak this page\"\n\tdata-custom-play=\"Play\"\n\tdata-custom-pause=\"Pause\"\n\tdata-custom-stop=\"Stop\"\n\tdata-overlay=\"false\"\n\tdata-invert=\"false\"\n\tdata-no-time=\"false\"\n\tdata-no-button-text=\"false\"\n\tdata-one-button=\"true\"\n\tdata-one-style=\"true\"\n\tdata-hide-stop=\"true\"\n\tdata-voice=\"Gordon\"\n\tdata-pitch=\"1\"\n\tdata-speed=\"1\"\n\tdata-align=\"flex-start\"\n>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div><div\n    class=\"bbg-column bbg-column--width-2\"\n    style=\"\"\n    >\n    \n<\/div>\n\n\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n<div  class=\"bbg-row-container\">\n    <section class=\"bbg-row  text--black row-padding--top-none row-padding--bottom-compact bbg-row--full-bg-bleed\" data-anchor='row-6a0923f953aea'>\n        \n        \n        <div\n            class=\"bbg-row--content\"\n                    >\n            \n            <p><div\n    class=\"bbg-column bbg-column--width-2\"\n    style=\"\"\n    >\n    \n<\/div><div\n    class=\"bbg-column bbg-column--width-8 bbg-column--has-bg-color\"\n    style=\"background-color:#e6f3ff;border-radius: 16px 16px 16px 16px;\"\n    >\n    <div class=\"wpb_content_element bbg-card  bbg-card-custom bbg-card-text-black\" id=\"card_1\" data-card_type=\"no_image\">\n      <style>#card_1 .bbg-card__innerwrapper {background-color: #e6f3ff;}#card_1 .bbg-card__innerwrapper {\n\tborder: 1px solid #e6f3ff !important;\n\t}#card_1:hover .bbg-card__innerwrapper {\n\tborder: 1px solid #e6f3ff !important;\n\t}#card_1 .bbg-card__innerwrapper {\n\tpadding: calc(var(--brand-large-padding, 40px) - 1px) !important;\n\t}#card_1 .bbg-card__innerwrapper .bbg-card__title {\n\tcolor: #000000 !important;\n\t}#card_1 .bbg-card__innerwrapper .bbg-card__content,#card_1 .bbg-card__innerwrapper .bbg-card__content p  {\n\tcolor: #000000 !important;\n\t}#card_1.bbg-card_hasImage .bbg-card__innerwrapper{padding-top: calc(var(--brand-default-padding, 16px) - 1px);padding-left: calc(var(--brand-default-padding, 16px) - 1px);padding-right: calc(var(--brand-default-padding, 16px) - 1px);}<\/style>\n  \n  \n  <div class=\"bbg-card__innerwrapper\">\n    <div class=\"bbg-card__content\">\n      \n              <div class=\"bbg-card__eyebrow\" style=\"color: #000000\">KEY TAKEAWAYS<\/div>\n      \n      \n              <div class=\"bbg-card__wysiwyg bb-wysiwyg\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"TextRun SCXW124157086 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124157086 BCX0\">Experts at<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW124157086 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124157086 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW124157086 BCX0\">Bloomberg<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW124157086 BCX0\">\u2019s\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW124157086 BCX0\">Africa<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124157086 BCX0\"> Business Summit event in <span class=\"TextRun SCXW97424752 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW97424752 BCX0\">Johannesburg<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124157086 BCX0\">\u00a0note that\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124157086 BCX0\">the continent<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW124157086 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124157086 BCX0\">\u00a0has the population scale, critical minerals, and entrepreneurial momentum to become a global digital economy leade<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124157086 BCX0\">r<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124157086 BCX0\">.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"TextRun SCXW191932849 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW191932849 BCX0\">Progress will in large part depend on addressing infrastructure gaps, including reliable energy, data-center capacity, affordable connectivity, and predictable regulation, that continue to shape AI deployment and large-scale digital investment.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW191932849 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"TextRun SCXW56741458 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW56741458 BCX0\">Public and private investment in skills, connectivity,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW56741458 BCX0\">logistics<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW56741458 BCX0\">, and locally relevant technology use cases is contributing to efforts to translate digital ambition into scalable, investable growth opportunities across African economies.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW56741458 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\n<\/div>\n          <\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n<\/div><div\n    class=\"bbg-column bbg-column--width-2\"\n    style=\"\"\n    >\n    \n<\/div>\n\n\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n<div  class=\"bbg-row-container\">\n    <section class=\"bbg-row  text--black row-padding--top-compact row-padding--bottom-compact bbg-row--full-bg-bleed\" data-anchor='row-6a0923f95777f'>\n        \n        \n        <div\n            class=\"bbg-row--content\"\n                    >\n            \n            <p><div\n    class=\"bbg-column bbg-column--width-2\"\n    style=\"\"\n    >\n    \n<\/div><div\n    class=\"bbg-column bbg-column--width-8\"\n    style=\"\"\n    >\n    <div\n\tclass=\"bb-wysiwyg\"\n\t\t>\n\t<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Africa has the scale and the\u00a0ambition\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">emerge\u00a0as a global leader<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0in digital infrastructure and innovation, but\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">significant obstacles\u00a0remain<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> to reaching that goal, experts say. At the <strong>Africa Business Summit<\/strong> event hosted by Bloomberg in Johannesburg in November, technology <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">executives<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">discussed\u00a0the scale of the opportunity\u00a0and what still needs to be done<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0to ensure\u00a0Africa reaches its potential sooner rather than later.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Africa is adopting AI, digital finance and online commerce at pace, and has the potential to scale further in each of these areas. There is no shortage of enthusiasm among market participants for the digital economic opportunity emerging markets across the continent, experts state.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yet progress in AI and digital services depends on fundamentals the continent must address to move forward. Infrastructure, for example, is unevenly distributed, energy shortages are a challenge, while limited data-center capacity is hampering AI adoption and inconsistent regulation could make coordinated investment and scale harder to achieve.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAfricans need to ask, how does Africa win?\u201d says Genevieve Sangudi, Managing Director at Alterra Capital Partners, referring to AI. \u201cAfrica has things critical for AI development: 30%-40% of the world\u2019s critical minerals are here, and it has a really large, youthful population to drive adoption. So how do we avoid what we do now: exporting raw materials and importing technology?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With local processing capability, says Sangudi, Africa can accelerate AI adoption and lead in homegrown innovation, but the fundamentals must be fixed first. This is one of many areas where African potential is held back by execution. <\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n<div  class=\"bbg-row-container\">\n    <section class=\"bbg-row  text--black row-padding--top-none row-padding--bottom-none bbg-row--margin-top-compact bbg-row--margin-bottom-compact bbg-row--full-bg-bleed\" data-anchor='row-6a0923f95a268'>\n        \n        \n        <div\n            class=\"bbg-row--content\"\n                    >\n            \n            <div\n    class=\"bbg-column\"\n    style=\"\"\n    >\n    <div class=\"bbg-interstitial\" aria-label=\"interstitial\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t<style>\n\t\t.bbg-interstitial #card_2.bbg-card_hasCta{\n\t\t\tbackground: url(https:\/\/assets.bbhub.io\/image\/v1\/resize?width=auto&amp;type=webp&amp;url=https:\/\/assets.bbhub.io\/professional\/sites\/41\/Interstitial_bg.png);\n\t\t\t\tbackground-repeat: no-repeat;\n\t\t\t\tbackground-position: center center;\n\t\t\t\tbackground-size: cover;\n\t\t\tpadding: 104px;\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t}\n\t\t.bbg-interstitial #card_2.bbg-card_hasCta .bbg-card__content, .bbg-interstitial #card_2.bbg-card_hasCta .bbg-card__content p{\n\t\t\tcolor:white;\n\t\t}\n\t\t@media (max-width: 768px) {\n\t\t\t.bbg-interstitial #card_2.bbg-card_hasCta{\n\t\t\t\tpadding: 80px 32px;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t\t@media (max-width: 480px) {\n\t\t\t.bbg-interstitial #card_2.bbg-card_hasCta{\n\t\t\t\tpadding: 80px 18px;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t<\/style>\n\t<div class=\"wpb_content_element bbg-card  bbg-card-dark bbg-card_hasCta has_interstitial\" id=\"card_2\" data-card_type=\"no_image\">\n  \n  \n  <div class=\"bbg-card__innerwrapper\">\n    <div class=\"bbg-card__content\">\n      \n      \n                      <h3 class=\"bbg-card__title\">Discover more with Bloomberg newsletters<\/h3>\n      \n              <div class=\"bbg-card__wysiwyg bb-wysiwyg\"><p>Subscribe now<\/p>\n<\/div>\n          <\/div>\n\n          \n<div\n  id=\"cta_2862552724862032897\"\n  class=\"wpb_content_element bbg-cta icon icon-arrow\">\n  <style>\n    \n    \n    \n  <\/style>\n  <div\n    class=\"bbg-cta-link link-holder\"\n    data-links-type=\"cta-links\">\n    <p class=\"bbg-cta-p right\">\n      <a\n        class=\"bbg-cta-link link interstitial_cta\"\n        href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/professional\/insights\/newsletter\/\"\n        target=\"\"\n        rel=\"\"\n        data-section-name=\"\"\n                role=\"button\"\n        aria-label=\"Learn more\"\n        >\n                <\/a>\n    <\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n<div  class=\"bbg-row-container\">\n    <section class=\"bbg-row  text--black row-padding--top-compact row-padding--bottom-none bbg-row--full-bg-bleed\" data-anchor='row-6a0923f95fd0d'>\n        \n        \n        <div\n            class=\"bbg-row--content\"\n                    >\n            \n            <p><div\n    class=\"bbg-column bbg-column--width-2\"\n    style=\"\"\n    >\n    \n<\/div><div\n    class=\"bbg-column bbg-column--width-8\"\n    style=\"\"\n    >\n    <div\n\tclass=\"bb-wysiwyg\"\n\t\t>\n\t<h2><span class=\"TextRun SCXW53435189 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW53435189 BCX0\">Africa\u2019s<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW53435189 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW53435189 BCX0\">technology<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW53435189 BCX0\">\u00a0baseline<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW53435189 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">A major piece of the puzzle\u00a0is\u00a0infrastructure, with Africa short on\u00a0the\u00a0data centers\u00a0needed\u00a0to drive the AI boom.\u00a0Hatem\u00a0Dowidar, Group\u00a0CEO\u00a0of\u00a0tech group\u00a0e&amp;,\u00a0notes\u00a0that\u00a0the continent\u00a0has less than 500 megawatts of capacity\u00a0serving\u00a0a population of\u00a0roughly 1.4\u00a0billion people.\u00a0By contrast, a quarter of\u00a0the 150\u00a0new data centers\u00a0projects\u00a0in the US in 2025\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/about.bnef.com\/insights\/clean-energy\/ai-and-the-power-grid-where-the-rubber-meets-the-road\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">exceed that capacity<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.\u00a0Hyperscale facilities need\u00a0reliable\u00a0power, so until grids are strengthened, their proliferation will be slow.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cWe have so many opportunities, but there are issues,\u201d says Dowidar. \u201cEnergy is an issue and it\u2019s not the scarcity or price, it\u2019s reliability. Another is regulation, which changes fast and there are many surprises. For something like a data center, for which you recover the investment over a long horizon, that\u2019s an issue.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Hassanein Hiridjee, CEO at AXIAN Group, agrees that access to energy is a primary point to address. \u201cIn some countries, electricity penetration is less than 50%, and that needs to increase\u201d he says. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">When it comes to\u00a0AI, demand\u00a0is rising quickly\u00a0across Africa,\u00a0but\u00a0Hiridjee\u00a0argues\u00a0that\u00a0the continent\u00a0should not \u201ccopy and past<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">e\u201d global AI models.\u00a0Instead, it should\u00a0seize the opportunity\u00a0to create\u00a0locally relevant solutions, based on use cases that solve\u00a0practical problems.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The way to do that is to build connectivity and skills, says Alex Okosi, Managing Director &#8211; Africa at Google.\u202f\u201cWe\u2019re working with operators to bring down the cost of data. [High costs] mean people can\u2019t be online to leverage the tools they need to help them learn better, work better and enable them to earn.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Data sovereignty\u00a0is another area of focus.\u00a0Hiridjee\u00a0said regulation\u00a0in this area\u00a0is\u00a0simply\u00a0missing in many countries.\u00a0Yet without\u00a0well-constructed\u00a0frameworks,\u00a0he argues,\u00a0investors hesitate and AI systems cannot be trained safely on local datasets.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">He adds:\u00a0\u201cIn Africa, we\u00a0must\u00a0have AI made by Africans for Africans.\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0not the case\u00a0at the moment\u00a0because not all the countries are applying proper data sovereignty regulation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<div\n\tclass=\"bb-wysiwyg\"\n\t\t>\n\t<h2><span class=\"TextRun SCXW117053868 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW117053868 BCX0\">Connectivity and skills<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW117053868 BCX0\">\u00a0as<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW117053868 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW117053868 BCX0\">s<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW117053868 BCX0\">teps toward Africa<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW117053868 BCX0\">n<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW117053868 BCX0\">\u00a0success<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW117053868 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Despite the constraints, momentum is\u00a0building\u00a0across\u00a0several\u00a0key\u00a0sectors. Okosi highlights\u00a0Google\u2019s training\u00a0program which has involved\u00a0about\u00a07 million\u00a0students to date, noting that the company\u2019s\u00a0programs\u00a0aim to\u00a0build digital literacy and AI readiness across both technical and non-technical fields.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Notably, as\u00a0Okosi\u00a0points out\u00a0Google is working with telecom operators to improve infrastructure and reduce data costs.\u00a0It is also workin<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">g\u00a0with\u00a0startups\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">address persistent challenges in sectors such as health and agriculture.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Okosi says:\u00a0\u201cOur start-up accelerator\u00a0looks\u00a0at what challenges\u00a0start-ups\u00a0are trying\u00a0to\u00a0solve\u00a0and\u00a0what\u00a0they\u00a0can achieve\u00a0over time.\u00a0I get excited about the solutions\u00a0to\u2026improve the societal health of Africa\u00a0and address foundational issues.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Dowidar\u00a0says\u00a0e&amp; has\u00a0set aside about\u00a0$4.5\u00a0billion for investment in African infrastructure through\u00a02027. He\u00a0says:\u00a0\u201cAt the end of the day, if you cannot connect the\u00a0people,\u00a0you cannot do AI, you cannot do fintech.\u00a0Africa today is the continent that is catching up\u2026but lots of things are happening to change that.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Notably there are examples of digital companies that saw a success in Africa and are attracting investors successfully. AXIAN Group\u2019s Hiridjee\u202fpoints to the example of, Jumia, an ecommerce company that AXIAN invested in. \u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">We\u2019re\u00a0very excited\u00a0about that company,\u201d he explains.\u00a0\u201cThe management team has executed a full turnaround and built a real African solution for e-commerce on the continent.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Investment\u00a0by AXIAN and others\u00a0in\u00a0logistics\u00a0and last-mile connectivity is helping e-commerce platforms scale in East and Southern Africa, especially in markets where mobile payments are already well established.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Alterra Capital Partners\u2019\u00a0Sangudi\u00a0quotes\u00a0an investment\u00a0her company made in\u00a0a logistics\u00a0business called\u00a0Korridor, which\u00a0at the time of the investment back\u00a0in 2019\u00a0provided\u00a0fuel and cash services\u00a0for trucks crossing borders in 13 countries across Africa.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">It was a traditional freight service, but the acquisition uncovered bottlenecks in the movement of goods across the continent. By digitizing the business into a tech platform, the service has become a single electronic payment solution covering everything drivers need to get from a to b: insurance, parking, customs payments and so on. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Sangudi\u00a0says:\u00a0\u201cIt reduces\u00a0costs\u00a0and minimizes corruption. For me\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0exactly why the use case is so important, not apps for their own sake, but African\u00a0technological solutions for African problems.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The\u00a0examples show that the region is\u00a0making progress, with\u00a0training, connectivity, renewable\u00a0energy\u00a0and digital platforms moving forward\u00a0in large areas.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<div\n\tclass=\"bb-wysiwyg\"\n\t\t>\n\t<h2>Foundations for long-term digital growth<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">If connectivity, energy and regulation continue to improve, Africa might be well positioned to create AI systems tailored to its needs, according to AXIAN\u2019s Hiridjee, who points to small but high-impact applications, <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">AI-enabled mobile diagnostics that use imaging to support clinical assessment, and\u00a0educational chatbots designed to accelerate learning outcomes for schoolchildren\u00a0in remote areas<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Experts say foundational progress will be key\u00a0to fostering these innovations: stable electricity, predictable regulatory frameworks and affordable data access will\u00a0determine\u00a0how quickly AI, cloud computing and digital commerce can expand.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">But\u00a0equally,\u00a0training programs are\u00a0building, telecoms are investing, renewable energy projects are improving grid stability and digital platforms are scaling.\u00a0Africa\u2019s\u00a0future\u00a0will\u00a0hinge on\u00a0whether\u00a0such upgrades to\u00a0infrastructure and regulation can keep pace with\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">scale of the opportunity.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">As\u00a0AXIAN Group\u2019s\u00a0Hiridjee\u00a0says, the opportunity is Africa\u2019s to grasp:\u00a0\u201cWe\u00a0have a\u00a0tendency\u00a0to\u00a0talk about the problems we face, but\u00a0where in the world\u00a0are there no problems? This is an open highway\u00a0and\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0an opportunity for Africans to invest in our great continent.\u00a0There is so much to do,\u00a0we have a tremendous amount of work to do,\u00a0but\u00a0there are so many opportunities.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n<div  class=\"bbg-row-container\">\n    <style>section[data-anchor=row-6a0923f963184]::before {\n\t\t\t\tbackground-color: #f4f4f9;\n\t\t\t}<\/style>\n    <section class=\"bbg-row bg--custom-color  bg--f4f4f9 text--black bbg-row--full-bg-bleed\" data-anchor='row-6a0923f963184'>\n        \n        \n        <div\n            class=\"bbg-row--content\"\n                    >\n            \n            <p><div\n    class=\"bbg-column bbg-column--width-8\"\n    style=\"\"\n    >\n    <div\n\tclass=\"bb-wysiwyg\"\n\t\t>\n\t<h3>Related Content<\/h3>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div><div\n    class=\"bbg-column 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