Logistics is one of the major tools for shaping economies across the globe, and its role in developing Africa’s economy will be no different.
Think about it: as far as the sale of goods and services is concerned, it would be challenging to bring two parties together if there wasn’t a logistics element.
Africa is the fastest-growing economy in the world and is projected to become a global economic force.
But to achieve this, governments and businesses across the continent have to take the logistics element seriously.
So the question is how can they take advantage of logistics, and what will be its role? There are three major roles the logistics will play.
Trade facilitation, market access, and infrastructure development.
We will be exploring each of them in this article.
1. Trade Facilitation
Trade is the lifeblood of any economy. The buying and selling of resources is not complete if they cannot be transported to where those resources are needed.
As African countries begin to interact with each other, logistics is the engine that will ensure its fruition. With logistics, businesses can ensure the proper storage and distribution of these goods across Africa.
However, regarding trade across Africa, customs and compliance still play a vital role, which might limit the amount of business being processed across the board.
In Africa, it is sometimes easier to do business with nations from other continents than to work with nations within the continent, which is a turn-off for most businesses.
2. Market Access
Logistics is the guardian of market access and ensures that goods find their way to consumers who need them. Even those in remote regions across Africa.
African geographical landscape can be a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it provides beautiful scenery and a community for people on the continent. And on the other, it makes it challenging for these people to access goods and services.
With proper logistics implementation, vast distances, rugged terrains, and remote regions are no problem. Maybe more than that, logistics can serve as a bridge between these businesses and the world.
So, a Coca-Cola can travel thousands of miles and find its way across different challenges to end up on the table of a village chief. That is the power of logistics.
3. Infrastructure Development
From constructing roads and bridges to expanding ports and railways, logistics is the driving force that transforms blueprints into tangible assets.
Building roads, electricity lines, and communication networks to remote areas requires careful planning and execution.
Logistics links these rural communities to the larger economy by facilitating labour and resource transportation, reducing inequities, and promoting inclusive growth.
It guarantees that the appropriate resources are available when needed, optimizes transportation networks, and simplifies the supply chain.
Logistics is the reason for our smart cities, prosperous rural communities, and effective transportation networks.
Obinabo Tochukwu Tabansi is a supply chain mastro and writer with a decade of experience working in different facets of the supply chain. Today he is living his passion for writing on all things supply chain. His blog, Supply Chain Nuggets, is Africa’s fastest-rising supply chain blog, helping professionals, business owners, and curious minds navigate the supply chain complexities on the continent.
