A new approach to warehousing is needed to support economic growth in Africa, according to Geoffrey White, CEO of integrated logistics provider Agility Africa. Writing for the World Economic Forum for Africa, which was hosted in Cape Town last week, he says: “African countries need to transition from low-quality ‘godowns’ – makeshift warehouses that tend to lack basic security and safety features – to facilities that meet international standards with consistent, reliable IT connectivity and power. “Warehouses tend to be one of the most ignored elements of infrastructure and logistics, but they are a fundamental part of the supply chain, critical for economic development and growth. “High-quality warehousing is not only needed for storage and distribution, but also for the packing, processing, assembling and light manufacturing of goods, the foundations of any economy.” Industrial real estate demand is estimated at over 15 million square metres in Africa’s highest-potential markets, White says. This shortage of quality warehousing is increasing the price of goods and stifling business growth. “To reach its true potential, Africa needs a fundamental warehousing transformation,” adds White. “The ongoing transformation of warehousing in markets such as Asia demonstrates how a country can leverage improved facilities to stimulate trade, with a knock-on positive impact on economic development, jobs and prosperity,” he writes.