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The nuts and bolts of a 24-hour economy

Around the clock: A 24-hr economy would encompass sectors such as entertainment, transport, logistics, hospitality and others PIC MORERI SEJAKGOMO
Around the clock: A 24-hr economy would encompass sectors such as entertainment, transport, logistics, hospitality and others PIC MORERI SEJAKGOMO

As the country forges a path towards a ‘round the clock’ operating economy, little has been said about the nuts of infrastructure, tax and policy frameworks that have to fit in with the bolts of regulation and financing needed to make this dream a reality, writes TIMOTHY LEWANIKA

Globally, the night-time economy is a multi-billion-dollar engine of activity, supporting millions of jobs across transport, hospitality, healthcare, energy, security, entertainment and urban services. Its appeal lies in its simplicity: extend trading hours, increase labour shifts, and unlock more spending. But the glossy promise masks a complex architecture.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) estimates that the global 24-hour economy stretching from varying sectors such as logistics, travel, manufacturing, hospitality will grow from roughly US$9.4 billion in 2024 to nearly US$25 billion by 2035. In several advanced markets, night-time activity contributes as much as four percent of GDP.

Editor's Comment
Don't let FMD outbreak drag on

Acting Agriculture Minister, Edwin Dikoloti, is right in saying opening an export-ready facility whilst Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is still spreading would risk getting the whole country blacklisted before a single carcass leaves the door.A ban like that would break the already stressed nation. So, the postponement, painful as it is, is the right thing to do. The local economy is being squeezed from both ends. FMD has already slammed the door...

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