Investing in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges
Sub-Saharan Africa will be home to seven of the world’s ten fastest growing economies in the next five years. At a recent Thomson Reuters event, U.S. Sen. Christopher Coons joins top African investment managers and business leaders before a live audience to identify key opportunities and ways to address risks, in a panel moderated by Reuters Editor-at-Large Sir Harold Evans. The video features local investors such as Yemi Lalude of Adlevo Capital and Bismark Rewane of Financial Derivatives Company Limited as well as a number of Africa focused foreign investors. Watch the video below.
Big Spending Nigerian Shoppers Besiege London
Good article in the Guardian about how Nigeria’s rising middle class are outnumbering most foreign shoppers in London.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/10/nigeria-shoppers-rival-russia-middle-east?CMP=twt_gu
Key stats:
*Nigeria has 142,000 visitors to the UK per year.
*US supermarket giant Wal-Mart sees space for 50 stores in Nigeria.
*Other big name brands like Apple see potential in Nigeria’s expanding economy and rising middle class.
Nigeria: The Young and the Unemployed
Al-Jazeera feature on youth unemployment in Nigeria. Despite Nigeria’s fast-growing economy and rich natural resources, there do not seem to seem to be enough jobs to go around for the hordes of young graduates each year.
Demographics are not helping either. Nigeria also has one of the fastest growing populations in the world, which is set to double by the year 2035. Rising unemployment + rising population growth = big trouble ahead.
MTV Base Interview with Aliko Dangote: Africa’s Richest Man
In other news, Dangote is apparently in talks with South African company Tiger Brands to sell a controlling stake in his flour company Dangote Flour Mills PLC for about $125 million dollars.
He also plans to spend $7.5 billion dollars in the next 4 years to expand his business.
http://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFJOE84904K20120510
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Lx_H_LrZ1DE
Sudan: the “Divorce” between North and South
For those who think secession is the answer to Nigeria’s problems – take a look at Sudan. A country with an Islamic north, and Christian oil-rich south. Oil pipelines run northward. Does that remind you of another west African country?
Interesting discussion that highlights the role and vested interests of China and the United States of America. The “US has no problem dealing with dictators. They just don’t like dealing with dictators that don’t play ball”. How succinct!
Yet North and South Sudan are on the brink of war, not long after South Sudan voted for independence from the North.
Porsche and Luxury Brands Come to Nigeria
http://castroller.com/Podcasts/ReutersUsBusiness/2822038
Popping Champagne and speeding Porsches: Luxury brands come to Nigeria to target wealthy elite.
Moet and Louis Vuitton are already in Nigeria. Next comes Porsche who are opening showrooms in Lagos and Abuja.
The “Occupy Nigeria” Movement and Phenomenon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLfWWcpB4D4
I still do not understand why the government did not phase in the fuel subsidy withdrawal in installments; incrementally increasing the petrol price – rather than doubling the price overnight! Clearly the government did not understand or anticipate that such a move would cause mass protests, especially among the technology and social media young generation who have spread their message and anger via social media.
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2104053,00.html?xid=gonewsedit
China’s Influence in Africa
BBC documentary on the spread of Chinese influence in Africa. While many in the West view Africa as a land of poverty, to the Chinese it is seen as an almost limitless business opportunity. Profile of Chinese entrepreneurs who have travelled thousands of miles to set up businesses in Africa.
