Covid-19 boosts ICT uptake, says Uneca

United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Southern Region Office (Uneca-Saro) director Eunice Kamwendo says despite Covid-19 impact in the region, the pandemic has spurred uptake of technological interventions by businesses and individuals.

Speaking virtually on Tuesday during the opening of the Dubai Expo, whose theme was The Impact of Covid-19 on Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Southern Africa, she said the adopted information and communications technology (ICT) is contributing to the development of small businesses.

She said: “There has been a marked increase in the use of digital tools across the sub-region propelled by Covid-19.

“This is a win for MSMEs as the digital technologies offer a possibility of reaching larger platforms, networks and clients.”

Kamwendo cited Namibia, Mauritius and South Africa where most businesses have increased their digital usage beyond 70 percent in marketing, communication, payment systems and supply chain management.

She said the rest of southern African region countries, including Malawi have not been left behind.

Kamwendo said the uptake of digital technologies occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic is here to stay and that Uneca-Saro is committed to facilitating the building of new innovations.

She said: “The digital sphere is an important enabler of new innovations.

“As an office, we will be exploring ways in which appropriate policies can help MSMEs in southern Africa roll out innovative solutions and build new value chains.”

Kamwendo said Uneca-Saro will continue to work with partners such as the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Business Council to expand online platforms for MSMEs to facilitate their networking and access to new business opportunities.

Speaking on behalf of Sadc Business Council, Madalitso Kazembe, who is also Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry director of policy and advocacy, said while people were restricted from crossing borders due to Covid-19, cargo was still being ferried across borders.

She said the Sadc Business Council has introduced an online business portal where businesspeople access answers to some of the challenges they face in cross-border businesses.

“Some of the bottlenecks that business people face are being addressed right on this portal,” said Kazembe.

National Working Group on Trade chairperson Fredrick Changaya, who is also Applepro Grain and Milling managing director, acknowledged that companies and individuals have been forced to adapt to new technologies.

He, however, it is not certain if companies will be able to stay abreast with technological developments as resources are not easy to come by.