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BEHIND
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THE
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BORDER
” CONSTRAINTS ON AFRICAN
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ASIAN TRADE AND INVESTMENT FLOWS
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To compensate for
the shortage of electricity, firms operating in Africa often need to own generators to supplement the electricity supply (figure. Generator ownership is more prevalent in Senegal, at 64 percent,
than it is in Tanzania, at 56 percent.
In all three countries, there is a clear pattern that the ownership of generators increases with size. There is not a visible difference between exporters and nonexporters in terms of generator ownership in Senegal. In Tanzania, while over 85 percent of exporters own generators, only about 50 percent of nonexporters do.
Telephone and InternetIn terms of telephone services, Senegal and South Africa have far fewer interruptions—only around 1 to 3 percent—than Senegal and Ghana figure. In Ghana and Tanzania, micro companies experience much higher telephone interruptions—on average at above 20 percent—than larger-sized companies. In
all countries except Tanzania, nonexporters experience a higher percentage of telephone interruptions than exporters.
In terms of Internet access, South Africa has almost 100 percent access for all firms while Senegal and Tanzania have much less (figure While about three-quarters of Senegalese firms have access to the Internet, only half of Tanzania firms have access.
The Internet divide, not surprisingly, is most pronounced in Tanzania where Internet access is low,
FIGURE 4.19
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