Africa welcomes business investment and offers some of the world's highest returns and impacts. Africa has tremendous economic potential and offers rewarding opportunities for global businesses looking for new markets and long-term investments with favorable returns. Africa has been one of the world's fastest-growing regions over the past decade, and by 2030 will be home to nearly 1.7 billion people and an estimated $6.7 trillion worth of consumer and business spending. Increased political stability in recent years and improving regional integration are making market access easier, and business expansion will generate jobs for women and youth, who represent the vast majority of the population. Current economic growth and poverty-alleviation efforts mean that more than 43 percent of the continent's people will reach middle- or upper-class status by 2030. Unlocking Africa's Business Potential examines business opportunities in the eight sectors with the highest potential returns on private investment the same sectors that will foster economic growth and diversification, job creation, and improved general welfare. These sectors include: consumer markets, agriculture and agriprocessing, information and communication technology, manufacturing, oil and gas, tourism, banking, and infrastructure and construction. The book's analysis of these sectors is based on case studies that identify specific opportunities for investment and growth, along with long-term market projections to inform decision-making. The book identifies potential risks to business and offers mitigation strategies. It also provides policymakers with solutions to attract new business investments, including how to remove barriers to business and accelerate development of the private sector.
Professor Landry Signe is a Rubenstein fellow at the Global Economy and Development Program and Africa Growth Initiative at the Brookings Institution, a distinguished fellow at Stanford University, a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, and chairman of the Global Network for Africa's Prosperity. His most recent book is titled African Development, African Transformation: How Institutions Shape Development Strategies.
Illustrations Acknowledgments 1. The Evolution of African Economies and Their Tremendous Business Potential 2. Africa's Consumer Markets and Distribution Transformation and Potential 3. Africa's Agriculture and Food Industry Transformation and Potential 4. Africa's Information and Communications Technology Transformation and Potential 5. Africa's Manufacturing and Industrialization Transformation and Potential 6. Africa's Oil and Gas Transformation and Potential 7. Africa's Tourism Transformation and Potential 8. Africa's Banking Transformation and Potential 9. Africa's Infrastructure and Construction Transformation and Potential Conclusion: Seizing the Tremendous Business Potential of Africa by 2050 Notes References Index
Landry Signe's seminal book, Unlocking Africa's Business Potential, remarkably outlines why African markets could be at the top of the agenda for global business and entrepreneurs, and which strategies business and policymakers should adopt to improve governance of the economy and make business effectively contribute to Africa's economic transformation and sustainable and shared development. We are in debt to Professor Sign" -Dr. Mo Ibrahim, founder and chair, Mo Ibrahim Foundation "Unlocking Africa's Business Potential insightfully guides entrepreneurs, investors, and policy leaders to new realities of profitable businesses in African economies, which are also a powerful force for good. Landry Signe's evidence-based and powerful insights showcase and confirm that he is simply the best, brightest, and most passionate of his generation when it comes to enlightening the world with the fascinating transformation and potential of African economies." -H. E. Prof. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, 6th president of the Republic of Mauritius "Africa is home to many of the world's fastest growing and most profitable markets. In Unlocking Africa's Business Potential, Landry Signe offers a thought-provoking, powerful, and compelling guide for any global business leader interested in understanding the incredible transformation taking place and turning the enormous opportunities into high impact returns to all stakeholders." -Paul Polman, co-founder and chair of IMAGINE, former CEO of Unilever, and co-founder of the Global Commission on Business and Sustainable Development "Unlocking Africa's Business Potential is an outstanding and well-researched book that all business and policy leaders interested in Africa must read. Landry Signe presents winning business and investment opportunities and strategies in Africa's most promising sectors during an era of shifting global policies and rapidly changing markets. Signe does an exceptional job of highlighting the key political, demographic, and economic trends that make it an imperative for companies to look to Africa to grow and expand their businesses." -Florizelle Liser, president and CEO, Corporate Council on Africa
