African countries can leapfrog technologies, if they understand the requirements

The world, in trade and industrial terms, is being disrupted by both technological and political developments, providing opportunities but also posing risks to African countries. So highlighted University of Cape Town Mandela School of Public Governance Professor Carlos Lopes. On the technological side, advances in recent years created possibilities of leapfrogging over existing technologies well-established in more mature economies. However, he cautioned that to leapfrog technologies "you need a certain level of sophistication".