A number of feasibility studies are nearing completion in East Africa and are ready to move into the procurement stage for a variety of transport logistics solutions, says Deloitte’s Jean-Pierre Labuschagne.
He said while urbanisation was probably one of the biggest challenges facing the continent, this was also where the greatest opportunities lay - depending on whether African governments could prepare themselves adequately for the growing migration from rural to urban areas.
“Africa is the world's second fastest urbanising continent, with approximately 40% of its people living in urban centres as opposed to 14% in the 1950s. This means the pressure on cities to provide and roll out services and infrastructure is enormous as it is estimated that 470 million people live in cities and their associated slums,” he said.
“Urban planning and the provision of related infrastructure will need to cut across all infrastructure asset classes - roads, water, sanitation, healthcare, schools and housing - if services are to be delivered in a cost effective and cost recovery way.”
