NAIROBI, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan manufacturers plan to adopt digital technologies in order to become competitive in the global market, the industry said late Wednesday.
Phyllis Wakiaga, CEO of Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) told journalists in Nairobi that as the local industries drift into the Fourth Industrial Revolution, they need to be cognizant of the fact that technology is rapidly and globally changing the landscape of manufacturing.
"I believe that as industry, we need to focus on digitization as it will enhance our competitiveness and enhance our market access in the region and the globe," Wakiaga said.
She added that for Kenya to fully realize its potential and to be competitive in the global market, it must adopt these digital technologies across all sectors of the economy.
Last year, KAM in partnership with UK-based think tank Overseas Development Institute (ODI) developed a ten-point policy framework that underlines the gaps that need to be filled to ensure that the Kenyan local industry capitalizes on digital technologies.
Wakiaga said that appropriate policies need to be developed to ensure that Kenya is able to maximize productivity gains from digitization and, through the efficiencies created, is able to realize large-scale employment gains.
According to the manufacturers lobby, current technological advances have created a new automated age, with recent developments in robotics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.
As a key pillar of the government's Big four Agenda, Wakiaga said that manufacturing forms a priority sector for attracting investment, driving economic growth and creating jobs.
"Therefore, there is an urgent need to understand how global trajectories in digitization can affect domestic manufacturing in Kenya and inclusive growth in the country." she said.
