Nairobi, Sept. 2 -- Countries are not short of priority sectors. Across national development plans, governments routinely identify manufacturing, tourism, agriculture, digital services, pharmaceuticals and other industries as potential drivers of jobs, investment, exports and economic transformation.

Yet why do some priority sectors become engines of growth while others remain priorities on paper? The answer lies in what happens after prioritisation: whether firms can invest, produce efficiently, reach markets and grow.

The obstacles to sector growth are often similar. Tourism businesses struggle with connectivity, skills, finance and approvals.

Manufacturers point to energy, logistics, standards and access to capital. Agribusinesses c...