NEWS & INSIGHTS
Smaller Might Be Better in African Agriculture
We recently carried out research in an African province with a population of over 4 million people and a yearly government income of over US$ 3 billion, and found little or no local industry for milk, feed, meat and other agricultural concerns. The entire region actually imports most of its agricultural and livestock products. Imagine what would happen if local industries were created instead.
Examples like this demonstrate that agriculture in Africa is a sitting gold mine. But also, as the world population increases, food demand is increasing at a rapid rate, and Africa is becoming recognized as the one place that has the capacity to feed the world. Already, fund managers and investors from various parts of the world are increasing their investment into agriculture on the continent, however, the surface has barely been scratched.
Most of the current focus in African agriculture has been on acquisition of large swathes of land for farming, production and export. This has generated its fair share of controversy with people complaining of various forms of abuse and exploitation. As a result, countries are beginning to place demands on investors and tighten conditions of land acquisition, which is are positive moves to make sure African communities benefit.
To read the entire article, go to: http://www.afribiz.net/content/smaller-might-be-better-in-african-agriculture#more-9026
An Emerging Shift in Leveraging Natural Resources in Africa
With the growing global population and consumption by that population of food, water, and other resources, money will flow to the regions that have those resources and Africa happens to be the prime location.
I won’t cite the statistics because you can find that information in many places. However, I will share one statistic - 60% of the arable land available in the world is in Africa. Just in case you didn’t know or forgot how big Africa’s natural resource pool is. In fact, according to a World Bank geologist, only 30% of Africa’s mineral resource potential has been mapped.
Let me first state that in no way should Africa solely, or largely, rely on natural resource wealth for development or prosperity, but as most economists agree, the next ten to 20 years will bring strong increased demand for commodities until other solutions, such as solar power and food technology, become more mainstream to handle the increasing demand.
To read the entire article, go to: http://www.afribiz.net/content/an-emerging-shift-in-leveraging-natural-resources-in-africa.
Retailing Trends to Watch in Africa
Twenty key trends need to be factored into the planning models of governments throughout the African continent in order to play a meaningful role as enablers of growth and development; especially growth and development that is conducive to formal, mainstream retailing.
We have identified 20 universal trends – in no particular order – that will shape the retail sector’s future. These trends are just as important to Africa as they are to the developed world with Africa now on the radar screen of international investors and retailers.
To read the entire article, go to: http://www.afribiz.net/content/retailing-trends-to-watch-in-africa.
Mobile Apps Market for International Travel
International SOS recently conducted a survey to find out how technology is being used by international business travelers. They discovered that, not surprisingly, about 75% of businesspeople carried smart phones or tablets with them. What they did find surprising was that only 27% of those people had a travel related app in their mobile device. The most common apps in use tend to be logistics related, for managing expense reports and travel itineraries.
Most business travelers use phones that have been provided to them by their companies and in most cases the apps that they use were preinstalled by their companies. “It’s what I call the last mile problem,” explains International SOS VP Tim Daniel. “There can be great applications out there but if we can’t actually make the traveler aware of them, then we miss the point.”
To read the entire article, go to: http://www.afribiz.net/content/mobile-apps-market-for-international-travel.
UPCOMING EVENTS
3rd Annual West Africa Trade and Commodity Finance Conference: November 1-2, 2011, London, UK
http://www.afribiz.info/content/3rd-annual-west-africa-trade-and-commodity-finance-conference-november-1-2-2011-london-uk
Logistics West Africa 2011: November 1-3, Lagos, Nigeria
http://www.afribiz.info/content/logistics-west-africa-2011-november-1-3-lagos-nigeria
Powering Africa – The Gas Option: November 7-9, 2011, Mombasa, Kenya
http://www.afribiz.info/content/powering-africa-the-gas-option-november-7-9-2011-mombasa-kenya
11th World Free Zone Convention: November 8-11, Shanghai, China
http://www.afribiz.info/content/11th-world-free-zone-convention-november-8-11-2011-shanghai-china
Powering Africa – The Financial Options: November 9-11, 2011, Mombasa, Kenya
http://www.afribiz.info/content/powering-africa-the-financial-options-november-9-11-2011-mombasa-kenya
Enterprise ICT Africa Conference 2011: November 9-10, Cape Town, South Africa
http://www.afribiz.info/content/enterprise-ict-africa-conference-2011-november-9-10-cape-town-south-africa
Mine Ventilation Africa 2011: November 15-16, Johannesburg, South Africa
http://www.afribiz.info/content/mine-ventilation-africa-2011-november-15-16-johannesburg-south-africa
Southern African Transportation Conference: November 21-24, 2011, Johannesburg, South Africa
http://www.afribiz.info/content/south-african-transportation-conference-november-21-24-2011-johannesburg-south-africa
Airport Expansion and Development Africa 2011: November 21-24, Johannesburg, South Africa
http://www.afribiz.info/content/airport-expansion-and-development-africa-2011-november-21-24-johannesburg-south-africa
Coaltrans Mozambique 2011: November 22-23, Maputo
http://www.afribiz.info/content/coaltrans-mozambique-2011-november-22-23-maputo
Africa Fairtrade Convention 2011: November 22-24, Accra, Ghana
http://www.afribiz.info/content/africa-fairtrade-convention-2012-november-22-24-accra-ghana
15th MEDEXPO Africa – Kenya: November 26-28, Nairobi
http://www.afribiz.info/content/15th-medexpo-africa-kenya-november-26-28-2011-nairobi
Water Management in Mining Africa 2011: November 29-30, Johannesburg, South Africa
http://www.afribiz.info/content/water-management-in-mining-africa-2011-november-29-30-johannesburg-south-africa
Shutdowns, Turnarounds, and Outages Conference 2011: November 29-30, Johannesburg, South Africa
http://www.afribiz.info/content/shutdowns-turnarounds-and-outages-conference-2011-november-29-30-johannesburg-south-africa
Hospital Build South Africa 2011: December 6-8, Johannesburg
http://www.afribiz.info/content/hospital-build-south-africa-2011-december-6-8-johannesburg
SPECIAL OFFERS
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Redefining Business in the New Africa and Grow Rich in the New Africa Book Bundle – 2 for the Price of 1!
The New Africa book series is well on its way to being a useful and favorite collection of books sharing a fresh perspective on doing business and investing in Africa for entrepreneurs, non-institutional investors, and SMMEs. The books offer both strategy and practical insights for readers. Redefining Business in the New Africa is already available while the Grow Rich in the New Africa will be available in September 2011. If you purchase Redefining Business in the New Africa now as part of the bundle, you will get a copy of Grow Rich in the New Africa when it is released. This bundle includes free shipping within the continental United States! Get both books for only $24.95. To get this bundle special, click here.
For more information about each book visit: www.redefining-business-in-the-new-africa.com and www.grow-rich-in-the-new-africa.com.
Register Today and Receive a 40% Discount for Offshore West Africa Conference & Exhibition – January 24-26 2012 in Abuja, Nigeria
The Offshore West Africa Conference & Exhibition is West Africa’s premier technical forum for the oil and gas industry. Register today and receive a 40% discount on the Individual Delegate Fee via our Early Bird offer. For further information please visit www.offshorewestafrica.com and download the Offshore West Africa 2012 Pre Show Guide.
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