The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), has urged African countries to integrate energy and digital connectivity to accelerate industrialization, economic growth and sustainable development. Gatete said energy and digital connectivity had become critical enablers of economic transformation rather than mere infrastructure investments. Gatete, however, said Africa possessed vast renewable energy resources, critical minerals and a youthful population capable of driving global industrial transformation. According to him, infrastructure should be viewed as an ecosystem combining transport, energy, digital systems, industrial parks, trade facilitation and skills development. He said governments should integrate investments in energy, transport and digital infrastructure instead of treating them as separate sectors.