The author, Richard Firth South Africa is known all over the world for its natural beauty, its mineral resources and (sometimes) its sporting prowess. Now we are also becoming known as the place to go for cost-effective skills. Netflix is the latest multinational investing in a South African skills base, joining giants like Amazon and…
South Africa spends a lot of time worrying about anchor industries like mining, finance and energy. They dominate headlines and boardroom agendas, but while we watch those traditional levers creak and strain, we’re ignoring a resource that could impact our long-term growth trajectory significantly. South Africa has one of the richest pools of diversely experienced…
Other global south economies provide valuable lessons on successfully transforming remittance flows into broad-based growth. In just over a decade, remittance inflows to Africa have surged from approximately US$53 billion in 2010 to US$95 billion in 2024. During this time, their share of the continent’s GDP rose from 3.6% to 5.1%, making remittances one of…
African governments and development agencies have embraced science, technology and innovation as levers for development over the past two decades. Science, technology and innovation boost productivity, cut transaction costs, open new business opportunities and promote social inclusion. They also help societies tackle grand challenges such as climate change and persistent poverty. By 2020 at least…
