A focus on oceans, power generation and ICTs will move Africa towards a new era of inclusive growth, President Jacob Zuma said in New York on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Zuma told the Pan African Students Association at Princeton University that the growth of the information and communications technology (ICT) sector in Africa \u201chas been phenomenal\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe number of mobile phone users has multiplied 33 times to 316 million users since the year 2000,\u201d he said. \u201cThe internet is spreading around Africa at an even faster pace. These trends have strong positive effects on growth.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said for every 10 new mobile phones per 100 people a country adds, the gross domestic product (GDP) is likely to increase by 0.8 percentage points.<\/p>\n
\u201cDue to the lack of fixed line internet infrastructure, roughly 39% of mobile users access the internet via mobile,\u201d he said. \u201cThis has opened an entire new portal for assistance in health and education, in especially the most rural areas.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moving to the oceans, he said the blue economy remains relatively unexplored.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2010, the ocean contributed approximately R54bn to South Africa’s GDP and accounted for approximately 316 000 jobs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ocean has a potential to contribute to the GDP up to R177bn,\u201d he said. \u201cThe ocean also has a potential to contribute between 801 million direct jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThese growth levers reflect at least 4% annual growth in both GDP contribution and job creation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Power generation is another major opportunity for Africa.<\/p>\n
Zuma said South Africa\u2019s Energy Security Master Plan calls for a radical change in the energy sector. \u201cWe are looking at an energy mix that comprises coal, solar, wind, hydro, gas and nuclear energy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnergy generation is a focus area for most African countries as well, which provides many opportunities in the continent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Africa\u2019s infrastructure needs boost<\/p>\n
He said Africa\u2019s infrastructure needed to be vastly improved too. \u201cIt is widely known that Africa’s inadequate infrastructure is one of the main factors inhibiting trade, integration and economic development,\u201d he said<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been calculated that if the continent continues to narrow its infrastructure gap, economic growth will receive a further large boost – perhaps by as much as two percentage points a year.\u201d<\/p>\n
South Africa was \u201con course to spend billions of rand on infrastructure in the coming years, focusing on rail, roads, energy, water, sanitation and the communication sectors throughout the country\u201d, said Zuma.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe programme will change the South African landscape,\u201d he said. \u201cIt will boost job creation, improve access to basic services and boost the competitiveness of our economy.\u201d<\/p>\n
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