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Though the world’s fastest-growing continent, it’s no secret that, like their counterparts, Africa has its own set of struggles and challenges and the pandemic has not been helpful. How do you think technology can improve the region’s Logistics competitiveness?
The pandemic indeed has brought many challenges to the African continent, significantly in the movement of goods and cross-border trade, and has paralysed its economy, taking it to a regression of up to 14% in some countries, including Mauritius. Even before COVID-19, there were many challenges faced by African importers and exporters with slow customs, Port, and Airport operations to remedy this, many African states had already engaged in implementing a Regulatory Single Window which has improved considerably the processes at customs and revenue authorities where clearance and declaration of goods are now done online with multiple stakeholders in the value chain connected.
However, the Ports and Airports where there has been an increased volume of cargo mostly in imports, continue to create blockages and delays at customs gates, and container yards both at the Port and inland, causing a hype in transportation costs, therefore reducing competitiveness. The increase in several vessels arriving at their Ports where they are still processing on paper adds to further delays and costs. Today, with advanced technology, the internet and mobile communications and solution providers like Kale Logistics Solutions, it is possible to achieve complete digitalisation of the operations at Ports and Airports by switching to its cloud Community Platforms built with the latest technology like Blockchain amongst others, which enables all stakeholders to connect on one platform for the exchange of data, filing of documents like manifests, Delivery Order (DO) and Air Waybill (AWB) amongst others.