The survey found growing concern among executives about geopolitical fragmentation, trade disruption, commodity volatility and supply-chain risks, with many businesses reassessing market exposure and contingency planning amid heightened global uncertainty.
At the same time, executives identified artificial intelligence as a major strategic priority capable of reshaping productivity, business efficiency and competitiveness across sectors including finance, logistics, healthcare, agriculture and telecommunications.
Business leaders surveyed said geopolitical developments — including conflict, trade realignment and shifts in global industrial policy — are increasingly influencing investment decisions and market strategy, particularly for firms exposed to global supply networks or imported technology and industrial inputs.
Executives also pointed to rising concern around cybersecurity, digital infrastructure readiness and regulatory uncertainty surrounding AI adoption, highlighting uneven preparedness across industries and jurisdictions.
Economists say the dual influence of geopolitical risk and emerging technologies reflects a broader transformation underway in African markets, where businesses are increasingly balancing defensive resilience with long-term growth ambitions.
Several firms are responding by increasing investment in automation, digital systems and operational diversification while also reassessing supplier concentration, currency exposure and regional expansion strategies.
The findings come as governments across Africa intensify efforts to position their economies for digital competitiveness, industrial development and stronger participation in global value chains despite financial constraints and infrastructure gaps.
Analysts say businesses capable of adapting to technological change while managing geopolitical volatility may emerge better positioned to navigate a more fragmented and competitive global environment.
For executives, the challenge increasingly lies in balancing risk management with innovation, as firms seek to remain competitive amid rapid economic, technological and geopolitical change.
