Afribiz: Business & Investment in Africa

Today is the launch of the book, "Africa's Future: Darkness to Destiny."  Duncan Clark, the author, joins us to share about economic transformations discussed in the book.

Every year the Unreasonable Institute holds a global competition for entrepreneurs who use their business for impact. Join us as Teju Ravilochan, a co-founder of the Unreasonable Institute, highlights the emerging entrepreneurs from Africa in this year's competition.

Banking is a major sector driving growth of services in Africa. Join us to hear James Mwangi, CEO of Kenya Equity Bank, share about the opportunities and ways to navigate this sector in Africa.

Africa has some of the top 100 major global infrastructure projects, according to CG/LA. Norman Anderson from CG/LA joins us to share why these projects have significance.

  There are numerous cooperatives in Africa in sectors like agriculture and mining that help marry business and social issues because they help businesses tap producers and then large number of producers generate income which spurs local economies. Paul Guenette, Senior Vice President of ACDI VOCA, shares how business can leverage the power of cooperatives to do business in Africa.

  Most of the conversation about the changing dynamics of trade in Africa have focused on Brazil, India, and China over the last several years, but in this episode, Simon Freemantle, a senior analyst with Standard Bank Research, there are about ten emeriging trade partners we should keep our eye on.

Brian Herlihy, CEO of SEACOM, shares insights and tips about doing business successfully in the ICT sector in Africa.

  A lot happened in 2011 that supports the understanding that the global economy will continue through a period of readjustment and rebalancing through 2015, if not beyond. The U.S. slow recovery, Europe debt crisis, and China's slowing economy brings this issue to the forefront for Africa. If the major trade engines slow, how will that affect Africa? Nwakego Eyisi, a featured columnist for Afribiz and an economist, suggests that Africa is in an excellent position to thrive in a constrained market space. Listen to learn the four key steps that need to happen for this to occur.

  Professor Mthuli Ncube, Chief Economist and a VP at African Development Bank, shares with us policy strategies he believes African governments will focus on to keep economic growth going on the continent.

The number of countries in which English is spoken is over 20, as is the case with French. Yet, Portuguese is dominant in two fast growing countries on the continent - Angola and Mozambique - and in three other countries. As far as business is concerned though no matter the language there are challenges and opportunities. This show introduces our English-speaking audience to Lusophone (Portugese-Speaking) Africa. Edward George, Lusophone Africa specialist at Ecobank, joins us to share his insights.

This starts a quarterly outlook on Africa's economic performance in the global economy. Professor Mthuli Ncube, Chief Economist and Vice President of the African Development Bank joins us.

While the United States is a huge consumer market, companies find the path to import into the U.S. quite challenging. This episode focuses on illuminating the path for those in Africa interested in importing into the U.S by offering insights to the structure of the sector. Selva Pillay, CEO of GLX Solutions, join us today to share his insights from his own experiences and those of his clients.

Every African country has its unique business environment with challenges, as well as competitive and comparative advantages. Today, we will look at Zambia in Southern Africa and what it  has to offer. Joining us is Greg Marchand, Founder and Managing Director of Gizmo Zambia. He is an American entrepreneur who has found success in Zambia. He shares his insights about doing business in Zambia and why it is a good place for other entrepreneurs as well. 

Paramount Group of South Africa has created a new market for themselves in airplane defense systems with the AHRLAC. Ivor Ichikowitz, CEO, says that they have developed a modularized airplane system for reconnaisance, and many other types of missions, that is faster to produce, lower cost to maintain than helicopters, and designed with developing nations in mind. Join our show today to hear how this innovation will help remap the future of defense aviation in Africa and around the world.

This episode is part of our "Lessons from CEOs" for 2011 highlighting the experiences and insights from CEOs of African multinationals. In this episode, we hear from two women leading African multinationals.First, we have Loide Monteiro, CEO of Loide Engineering. Funke Opeke, CEO of MainOne (a company in the ICT secto, also join us. She was named one of the top ten women in ICT in Africa this year.