This archive report was first published on 22 October 2021.
As the region navigates continued uncertainty and risk volatility, CEOs of East African firms remain optimistic about their countries' economic growth prospects, a sentiment reflected in the 2021 KPMG East Africa CEO Outlook Survey, published on October 22, 2021.
According to the Survey, 82% of East Africa CEOs are confident about the growth prospects of their country, a significant increase from the 32% recorded at the height of the pandemic.
Despite this optimism, CEOs listed Emerging and Disruptive Technology (32%), Supply Chain risk (15%), and Cyber Security Risk (10%) as the biggest risks they face in growing their organizations.
East Africa CEOs are shifting focus to address societal challenges such as gender inequality and climate change, with 88% noting the urgency to invest in digital opportunities and divest businesses facing digital obsolescence.
With increased stakeholder pressure to build business back better, 82% of East Africa CEOs see themselves increasingly held personally responsible for driving progress in addressing social issues, with 36% planning to invest 10% of their revenues in sustainable programs.
CEOs are strengthening their organization's digital advantage by building a more flexible future of work and operating as part of digital ecosystems, with 76% actively disrupting their sectors and having an aggressive digital investment strategy.
