Over the past two decades, economic strength, trade flows, technological leadership and even consumer demand have been moving steadily from west to east. This transformation is redrawing economic maps. It is also raising urgent questions about co-operation, competition and inclusion in a multipolar world. Lecturer in economics and finance Arno van Niekerk answers questions about these issues, which he explores in a new book, West to East: A New Global Economy in the Making?
What indicates a shift from west to east?
Brics countries, largely driven by China and India, overtook the G7 countries in their share of global GDP in 2018. As Figure 1 shows, the Brics contribution has grown from 32.33% of global GDP to 35.43% in 2024 (after being at 21.37% in 2000).
Figure 1
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The G7’s share decreased to 29.64%, from 43.28% in 2000.
This marks a historic turning point. Economic leadership that was long concentrated in the west has decisively shifted towards emerging economies.
Another strong indicator of the shift is the change in global shares of trade of the G7 and Brics countries. This is particularly true of exports. Data shows that Brics+ (11 countries, including new members) captured 28% of world exports in 2024, closing in on the G7’s 32%.
The rebalancing of global trade dynamics has wide-ranging consequences for international business. It means, especially in the case of China and India, that these economies are doing more than expanding in scale. They are also integrating effectively into global value chains, improving productivity and raising living standards.
As shown in Figure 2, the share of global merchandise exports of the G7 countries fell from 45.1% in 2000 to 28.9% in 2023. For their part, the Brics+ share rose from 10.7% (2000) to 23.3% (2023).
Figure 2
There are other indicators too:
What does this shift tell us about economic co-operation?
Countries in both the east and the west need to make more intentional efforts. This is necessary, firstly, to address the growing geoeconomic tension. And secondly to move the world towards a shared vision for sustainable economic progress that benefits all countries.
Such co-operation needs to go beyond traditional trade and investment agreements. It should be deliberately structured to reduce inequalities, strengthen resilience and embed sustainability.
I identify five main areas for co-operative initiatives.
Co-ordinated policy frameworks: tax co-operation in the form of global minimum corporate taxes to ensure fair revenue for social investment. Harmonise labour and social protections through common standards to prevent exploitation. Align sustainable development by embedding the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement targets and human rights principles into trade and financial agreements.
Inclusive trade and investment: fair trade agreements to ensure that market access benefits small producers, women and marginalised communities. Establish regional value chains that support developing countries in upgrading within global value chains – so that they don’t just supply raw materials. Design co-operative frameworks for technology transfer, especially for sharing green and digital technologies at affordable costs.
Financial co-operation: innovative financing mechanisms, such as green and social bonds, blended finance and climate funds need to be made accessible to low-income countries. Implement co-operative mechanisms for debt relief and restructuring. This will help address unsustainable debt that crowds out social spending. Forge public-private partnerships for inclusion to co-finance social infrastructure. This includes education, health and digital access.
Knowledge and capacity building: joint research platforms are required to enable more collaborative work on climate adaptation, food security and inclusive digitalisation. South-south and triangular co-operation should be increased to share experiences and best practices among developing nations with support from multilateral institutions. Managed labour mobility schemes through skills partnerships will benefit both sending and receiving countries.
Governance and multilateral reform: reforming global institutions like the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and World Trade Organization is essential to give developing economies stronger voices in these institutions.
What should African countries be doing?
China, India and other leading eastern countries have proven themselves formidable rivals to the west – economically, militarily and in global governance. Africa occupies a central position. It has the opportunity to become a key player in shaping the future of the global economy.
A number of recommendations should serve as priority areas – particularly over the next decade.
The first would include building a digital backbone, and enhancing technology and AI capabilities. These have become core drivers of competitiveness. Without infrastructure and skills, countries are relegated to raw-material suppliers.
Countries need:
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Secondly, governments should continue to secure investment in digital infrastructure, such as fibre optics, 5G networks and data centres. They could potentially use China’s Digital Silk Road, which promotes affordable tech alternatives.
Secondly, South Africa and other African countries need to prioritise economic inclusion and sustainable development to fast-track broad-based inclusive economic development. This should be the core driver of their development strategy.
Thirdly, African governments must strategically navigate geopolitical shifts and alliances. They are key spheres of influence in the digital competition between the US and China, and ought to use this position to their benefit. To do this, Africna governments should:
Arno J. van Niekerk, Senior lecturer in Economics, University of the Free State
This article is republished from The Conversation Africa under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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The National Resistance Movement Southern Africa Chapter (NRM-SAC) has demonstrated its unwavering support for President Museveni’s 2026 re-election campaign by launching the NRM-SAC Taskforce Great Trek, a large-scale mobilisation drive expected to cover communities across Uganda.
The taskforce, comprising over 400 members and more than 50 vehicles, will set off from the NRM-SAC headquarters at 101 Juta Street, South Africa, on November 25, embarking on an extensive door-to-door campaign to promote President Museveni and NRM flag bearers across the country.
The initiative builds on a long tradition of the Southern Africa Chapter’s involvement in the party’s electoral campaigns, including grassroots mobilisation, voter education, and logistical support both in Southern Africa and Uganda.
The chapter has previously supported President Museveni’s successful bids in the 2016/17 and 2020/21 elections, where he secured 60.75% and 59.27% of the vote respectively.
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Led by Chairperson Isma Luzige, who also serves as overall coordinator of the taskforce, and Eid Mugoya, chairperson of the organising committee, the team includes members of the National Executive Committee of the Southern Africa Chapter and various provincial chairpersons.
“Our primary mission is to mobilise resources for the presidential campaign and support for all NRM flag bearers across the country,” said Luzige.
“Through this door-to-door campaign and deployment of over 50 vehicles, we aim to engage communities directly, highlighting the party’s achievements and future plans to ensure a decisive victory for President Museveni and the NRM.”
Luzige added that the campaign theme — “Protecting the gains as we make a qualitative leap into high middle-income status” — reflects the diaspora’s commitment to Uganda’s political stability, economic transformation, and national unity.
Upon arrival in Uganda, the taskforce will be officially received by the NRM Secretariat, members of the NRM Diaspora League, and other senior officials.
Luzige also called for unity among Ugandans at home and abroad, stating: “Let us stand together as one people to protect the gains we have made.
Together, as pamoja, we will chart a prosperous future for Uganda under the visionary leadership of President Museveni.”
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He extended special appreciation to Uganda’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Paul Amoru, for fostering unity among the Ugandan diaspora, and to Abbey Walusimbi, Senior Presidential Advisor on Diaspora Affairs, as well as Major (Rtd) Pollar Awich, patrons of the NRM Diaspora Campaign Taskforce, for their leadership in strengthening diaspora structures and facilitating membership registration.
Organising Committee Chairperson Eid Mugoya described the Great Trek as a “call for unity and determination,” urging all Ugandans to actively participate in the campaign.
“This Great Trek is not just a political exercise but a call for unity. We urge every Ugandan to join hands and work tirelessly to support President Museveni and all NRM flag bearers. Together, we can secure a prosperous future for our country by protecting the gains we have made and advancing our shared vision for national development,” Mugoya said.
The NRM-SAC taskforce’s journey marks one of the most visible diaspora-led efforts yet to mobilise voters for President Museveni’s sixth consecutive term, as the ruling party readies for a campaign season expected to officially begin later this year.
Read the original article on Nile Post.
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Experts have emphasised that Africa is at a historic moment in medical innovation, with technology offering a unique opportunity to transform healthcare delivery to its 1.5 billion people.
ALSO READ: Inside Rwanda’s plan to fast-track digital transformation by 2026
They said this during the fourth edition of the Africa Health Tech Summit, taking place at Kigali Convention Centre from October 13-15. The three-day event brought together more than 1,800 experts, innovators, and policymakers from across the continent to explore solutions and strategies for transforming healthcare in Africa.
“When I reviewed the great moments in medical history, two discoveries stood out: the discovery of vaccines in 1796 and antibiotics in 1928,” Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, said at the opening of summit. “The third, I believe, is what we are living through today, artificial intelligence applied in medicine. This moment is just as historic.”
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ALSO READ: How Rwanda’s new health intelligence centre could transform healthcare
The minister noted that AI can now detect diseases early and support better clinical decision-making. However, he emphasised that technology alone is not enough. Skilled personnel are still needed to use it effectively.
Urging African countries to embrace technology rapidly, Nsanzimana said, “We have two choices, to slow down the speed of technology or to run fast and catch up so we move together.”
He cited Rwanda’s Zipline blood delivery system as an example of innovation that has become lifesaving. He also noted that digital health technology can help detect and respond to disease outbreaks faster.
Rwanda’s newly launched National Health Intelligence Centre, for example, provides real-time monitoring of health systems.
“Imagine a minister sitting in one room and seeing what’s happening across hospitals, a mother bleeding during childbirth and you can call for help instantly. That’s what health tech should do for us: detect quickly, prevent before catastrophe happens,” he said.
ALSO READ: Rwanda turns to digital clinics to address healthcare worker shortage
Nsanzimana also called for greater integration and cooperation, emphasising that digital health systems must be interoperable, and so must people.
Dr Raji Tajudeen, Deputy Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), said that of Africa’s 55 countries, with about 1.5 billion people, are not on track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3, with just five years remaining.
“Some of the reasons are not far from a lack of infrastructure, for which digital health is a core component,” he said.
He noted that Africa CDC has launched a Digital Health Transformation Agenda to create “a connected, secure, intelligent, collaborative, and trusted ecosystem” linking disease surveillance, epidemic intelligence, and primary health care.
“Data is the oxygen that sustains every health system. Data informs policy, planning, and practice at all levels,” Tajudeen said.
He noted that most African countries lack legal frameworks to manage health data effectively, creating mistrust that hinders data sharing.
“When there is no trust, people are reluctant to share data. What Africa CDC is doing is to put in place a continental health data governance framework that will build the necessary trust and allow member states to seamlessly share their data.”
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For Ozonnia Ojielo, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Rwanda, the digital divide is more than just an issue of access to technology. He said it is an equity gap that hampers data-driven decision-making and perpetuates inequalities in healthcare delivery.
Ojielo commended Rwanda’s leadership in digital governance and highlighted initiatives such as electronic medical records, the Timbuktu Health Tech Hub, and homegrown innovations like Telehealth 2, which improve access to essential healthcare.
He also noted that building a trusted, secure digital health ecosystem requires collaboration, interoperability, ethical governance, and investments in local talent.
“Our technological ingenuity must serve a singular goal, ensuring that all people have access to quality health services when and where they need them, without financial hardship and leaving no one behind,” Ojielo said.
Read the original article on New Times.
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