Nearly 70% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa invested in technology in the past 12 months to help boost growth and resilience – an indication that SMEs are embracing the positive impact of technology.

There are numerous opportunities that unlock the full potential of digitalisation for these businesses and the continent, which means addressing barriers, such as infrastructure, connectivity, and the high cost of implementing technology, and developing best practice frameworks for better collaboration.

These are findings from a new report, titled ‘Levelling the SME Playing Field’, jointly launched by Vodacom Group, Vodafone Group and Safaricom. The report is the sixth research paper under the Africa.connected campaign, which aims to drive sustainable development by closing the digital divides in Africa’s key economic sectors through strategic partnerships.

“This report explores the specific challenges SMEs face in Africa and unpacks what needs to be done to help these entrepreneurs overcome these obstacles. Our findings highlight the significant role that technology can play in helping small businesses tap into new opportunities, access finance, increase productivity, reduce costs and enhance their competitiveness,” says Shameel Joosub, Vodacom Group CEO.

The adoption of technology by Africa’s SMEs presents unique challenges. Going beyond inadequate infrastructure and access to connectivity, the findings reveal the greatest difficulty for SMEs is the high cost of technology upgrades and renewals (58,3%), which can prevent small businesses from keeping up with the latest technological advancements. Almost a third of SMEs (32%) are also concerned about a lack of digital skills and knowledge to take full advantage of technology solutions. In addition, the research points to regulatory and compliance issues as stumbling blocks in SMEs’ efforts to digitalise.

The research is based on conversations with 400 SMEs across eight African countries (South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Lesotho), ranging in size from one to 200 employees. These surveys were run in partnership with World Wide Worx, a South African market research business that focuses on trends in information technology and telecommunication.

In Africa, digitalisation has been a game-changer for SMEs, with the respondents highlighting the positive effect of technology on enhancing growth, efficiency, competitiveness and customer service. Furthermore, by using e-commerce platforms, social media, and digital payment solutions, such as M-Pesa, SMEs can expand their reach, access valuable data insights, and streamline operations.

To help drive technology adoption among the continent’s SMEs, the report outlines the importance of sharing best practices, to enable better decision-making and cost-effectiveness. From a knowledge-sharing perspective, these standards foster a learning culture by helping to identify gaps in understanding and making it easier to implement innovative ideas, while also providing an internal knowledge base and reducing the loss of know-how. Furthermore, adopting proven practices and technologies is faster and safer than testing new ones.

“Digital solutions and tools open possibilities for entrepreneurs and small business owners to connect and discuss best practices so that they can learn from each other’s experiences, mitigate common hurdles and maximise their potential. We at Vodacom are keen to partner with small businesses and support them on their journey to success. As a purpose-driven business, our goal is to utilise our networks and our technical capabilities to help SMEs innovate so that together we can create a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future for Africa,” says Joosub.

Click here (https://apo-opa.co/4awySQY) to download the paper.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Vodacom Group.

Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received a U.S. Congressional Delegation, led by Chairman of the Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence Subcommittee, Republican Congressman August Pfluger, as well as members of the U.S. Congress from the Democratic and Republican parties. The meeting was also attended by Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, and Director of the General Intelligence Service, Major General Abbas Kamel.

Spokesman for the Presidency, Counselor Dr. Ahmed Fahmy, said during the meeting the two sides underscored the robust and firm strategic partnership between Egypt and the U.S., with an emphasis on the role of Congress in strengthening and further promoting these relations toward broader prospects, notably in light of the multiple challenges encountered at both the regional and international levels.

Members of the U.S. Congressional Delegation acknowledged Egypt’s key role in solidifying the pillars of regional security and stability. They also valued the joint coordination between Egypt and the U.S. in an array of fields, which reflects positively on the interests of the two friendly peoples and the region.

The talks tackled the two countries’ collaboration in the areas of security and the fight against terrorism and extremism. There was an agreement on the need to bolster joint efforts in this regard. President El-Sisi emphasized Egypt’s vision with regard to the critical importance of peace and development to dry-up the sources of terrorism and extremism.

The meeting discussed in detail the regional situation, especially in the Gaza Strip. The President reviewed Egypt’s intensified efforts for an immediate ceasefire and the entry of relief aid to save more than two million Palestinians from the enormous human suffering. The President also stressed that it was necessary for the international community to assume its responsibilities in pressing for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire, and preventing the escalation of military operations in the Palestinian city of Rafah, renewing Egypt’s complete rejection of any attempts aimed at displacing the Palestinians from their lands.

The two sides agreed on the gravity of expanding the conflict in the region, which threatens regional and international peace and security. They confirmed that the two-state solution is the guarantor and the way to restore and consolidate security and stability in the region.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The Ministry of Defence is spending a total of Shs400 million monthly to fly troops to Somalia and other destinations following the grounding of planes owned by Uganda Air Cargo.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Rosette Byengoma, told the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs that Uganda Air Cargo has been chartering flights for the job, and that government loses money because of the third party involved. Byengoma called for money to be made available so that grounded aircraft can be worked on.

Officials from the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs, led by Minister Jacob Oboth, were appearing to respond to issues raised by the committee on the Defence Ministerial Policy Statement for the financial year 2024/2025. The meeting was held on Tuesday, 26th March 2024.

The issue was raised by the Committee Chairperson, Hon. Wilson Kajwengye, who wondered how troops are transported amidst the grounded aircraft. 

“We have our forces in Somalia and elsewhere. How do you take these soldiers and how much money do you spend? Are you not spending more on taking our soldiers than if you had aircraft?” he asked.

The General Manager of Uganda Air Cargo, Gen. Lakibus Lakara, said that the aircraft were in a sorry state and unable to be used. 

“I have no aircraft in the air as we speak. One is in the hangar under repair. Although one of them is repairable, the cost of repair does not make economic sense,” he said.

Gen. Lakara proposed to dispose the existing aircraft, saying that repairing them would be costlier. 

“So the process now is to see that we dispose of those aircraft than keeping them on the ground,” Lakara said. 

Hon. Kajwengye said that the process to dispose of the aircraft is with the Ministry of Defence, and that Parliament will only come in to see if the law was followed.

The Ministry of Defence has requested for Shs381 billion for the procurement of an aircraft. 

In December 2023, Cabinet revived the Uganda Air Cargo Corporation (UACC) Limited, an enterprise under the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). Specialising in cargo freight services and troop carriers, UACC has languished in dormancy for nearly four years due to insufficient operational funds. Currently, there are five aircraft with three awaiting disposal and two undergoing repairs.

The Ministry of Defence is currently seeking for a budget of Shs7.9 trillion for the upcoming financial year of 2024/2025 to effectively execute their responsibilities. 

In his presentation before the committee, Hon. Jacob Oboth disclosed a significant disparity between their allocated funds and their required budget, with only Shs3.8 trillion allotted, leaving a shortfall of Shs4 trillion. 

Minister Oboth appealed to the committee for assistance in mobilising funds, citing the inadequacy of their current allocations, which fall short of meeting even 50 percent of their requirements.

AUDIO: Minister Oboth

Byengoma, the Permanent Secretary, highlighted several areas of underfunding, including a Shs962 billion deficit for wage enhancements and staff recruitment, as well as shortfalls in pension, medical, funeral expenses, fuel, soldier clothing, and travel abroad, among others. 

AUDIO: Byengoma

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Shri Dinkar Asthana (IFS: 1990), presently Ambassador of India to the Republic of Senegal, has been concurrently accredited as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of The Gambia, with residence in Dakar.

He is expected to take up the assignment shortly.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of External Affairs – Government of India.