William Mills
“I think you have to go into Africa with the idea that it’s core to your business. If it’s not core to your business – if it’s just an opportunistic move – I would question that strategy”
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The rise of the so called Brics group of major emerging markets is fundamentally reshaping the complexion of global economic and political power. Nowhere has the impact of this been more visible than Africa, a trend that could have profound implications for the continent
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Photo: Getty
As food prices remain at all time highs, the link between phosphate rock production and global food security may play an important role in avoiding future food crises
More . . .- ‘Peak’ phosphate
Debate is raging about the volume of global phosphate rock reserves, with some arguing production could ‘peak’ within decades
- The price of stalemate
The breakdown of security caused by the ongoing conflict in Libya is raising concerns over the influence of Al Qaeda’s North African branch in the region’s leading oil producer
- Lessons learned
With unprecedented investment into the development of Africa’s palm oil industry, governments in the region are trying to avoid past environmental mistakes made in Asia
- Africa Calling
Liberalised market conditions and improving telecom infrastructure are making a number of African countries viable destinations for companies looking to outsource parts of their business operations
- Spending power
With an increasingly visible middle class reshaping the sub-Saharan African investment landscape, the region is attracting unprecedented interest from private equity investors
- Finding a path to growth
“to what extent can countries learn from others with similar endowments and higher per capita income when the global context has changed so fundamentally?”
- Powering private sector development
Since the start of the millennium and following almost two decades of low growth rates, economies in sub-Saharan Africa have been gathering momentum. GDP growth averaged almost 6 percent, whereas during the 1980s and 1990s growth amounted to less than half of this.
- Consumerism surge providing opportunities
Consultants, accountants, conferences and research reports are in unison vaunting the prospects of the fast growing group of people that make up the African consumer. With consumer spending in 2008 forecast to rise from $860bn to a startling figure of $1,400bn by the end of this decade, the African consumer is causing a stir with producers and investment managers alike.
- Building partnerships
These are exciting times for Africa. The continent is increasingly seen around the world as a place of opportunity for investment and business. Economic progress is taking root with annual growth averaging 5 percent over the last 15 years. Social progress is fast following in its wake. The fact that the continent has the planet’s youngest, fastest-growing and fastest-urbanising population is another attraction to countries and companies looking to the future.
- Obiageli Ezekwesili, Vice President for the Africa Region at the World Bank
“I really see the agriculture story not just as a threatening situation; it is also a huge opportunity”
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Interviews
Olusegun Obasanjo
“The reason I am‘re-inventing’myself as an investor... is because I was on the other side when I was in government. During that time I tried to create a conducive environment for investment into Nigeria, knowing fully well that you cannot talk of development and growth without investment”
Andrew Mitchell
“Ninety percent of all jobs around the world are created by the private sector, not governments”
Siegfried Russwurm
“Africa has grown into a focus area and the best proof is that the whole board has convened in South Africa to get a first-hand impression”
Adji Otèth Ayassor
“Our plan has been to attract investors by improving our business climate, making it easier for commerce in the country”
Stephen Chan
“Many countries are going through the protocol of holding an election... but the actual conduct of elections is not legitimate in itself”
