Why Travel 6k Miles To Study Supply Chains?

Per a 2025 Brookings Institute report, Africa is increasingly recognized as the next frontier for global economic growth. Its potential is vast, characterized by diverse natural resources, a burgeoning youth population, and untapped innovation. The question is no longer whether Africa will rise to meet the demands of a rapidly globalizing world, but how it will chart that rise by building on its inherent strengths. The continent holds tremendous potential to unlock prosperity—not just for Africa, but for the global economy. Yet the challenges are real: nearly 60% of Africans still live in poverty, and per-capita income has grown by only 1.1% annually over the past several decades.

At the same time, Africa is undergoing a major economic transformation, shifting from agriculture and extraction toward a services-driven future. That raises critical questions: How will logistics and supply chain infrastructure shape this next chapter? Where do the biggest opportunities lie for the global supply chain profession to support and learn? And what can advanced economies gain from the ingenuity and resilience of Africa’s supply chain leaders?

We’re heading there to find out.