Articles by "Africa"
Showing posts with label Africa. Show all posts

Hillary at 18:28 19

There are many long term businesses one can operate in Nigeria and still make a profit. These businesses are mostly concrete and can effectively be a good source of income for the person who is investing. Most of these businesses are related to real estate, investment trading, as well as collecting objects of value. These businesses can be started with as little as 50-100 thousand Naira and can appreciate over time in value, with ROI of more than 200%.

It is true that 2020 and the virus scare changed a lot, but these businesses can stand the test of time. This is because they satisfy and fill some important areas of our lives, and guarantee actual value.
In no particular order, I'll be listing these businesses so as to talk about them in detail. This list is also a matter of personal preference, market value, market size, based on how they are on-demand, and how lucrative they can be. I will also mention that they are however high risk, the high-profit margin is quite often proportionate to the risk. And you can invest in these 3 long term businesses in 2020.

Art Collecting

Art collecting is buying and storing artworks so as to resell when they appreciate in value over time. Although it is mostly for the mega-rich, it is important to know that any average person can get into the businesses by simply investing when it is affordable and progress from there. It is very lucrative and one can start with as low as 50 thousand. Since its long term, it is advisable to make your research especially about the artist and his market value. Like trading currency, it is also advisable to buy when it is affordable and resell when it has increased in price. But a lot of factors could determine this, some you can control, and some you can’t. So it makes it risky, and high yield. However you can purchase an artist’s work today and he will become a global phenomenon tomorrow, relative to his/her reception in the art community. 

A little Tip though. Become a friend to the artist, it can help you purchase at a lower rate than from Art stores. You can get lucky within the first five years if one of the artists you purchased their works become big. So it is also advisable to buy from different artists. Furthermore, it is important you buy works that you genuinely like, so it can motivate you to keep it for that long. Don’t just buy from the artist because you think it’s good business. There are many places to buy art from bourgeoning artist like Instagram and exhibitions hosted for galleries for promising young artists. Watch closely and very carefully, you can never get it wrong.

Gold trading

Gold is one of the most valuable precious stones on earth and is being sorted for its multipurpose uses. It is used by central banks to back their fiats, and in the luxury industry for aesthetic purposes among other uses. You can key into these billion dollars industry by buying as little as 100usd. Gold is a tangible asset and easy to store. You can buy Gold from the area where it is a bit affordable and abundant. But beware of fake and fraudsters, so it is advisable to buy from recognizable dealers to be safe. Like buying art, it is risky, but with proper research, you will be safe.


Real Estate.

Investing in real estate is very lucrative and like the above-mentioned businesses can be risky too. But real estate has many facets. I’m interested in the business of purchasing affordable land in a semi-remote area close to development and resell when it is okay too and has probably increased in value. This is the simplest and oldest form of real estate business. That is, buying and selling the land itself. Be very careful to purchase the land from the real owners of the property. Do your research for a lot of scammers are out there looking for who to deceive. If you can get this right, you will surely be making a profit within two years.

Finally, there are many other tangible assets to buy, that guarantees good ROI. These are means to earn and let your money grow over time. It is also for people who have patience. Always Remember, it is Gold, Land, and Art, at the basic level, then you climb.

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at 15:03 11
Is there such a thing as the “average Joe” or “average Joanne” in South Africa? This country is one of the most culturally rich and diverse countries in the world, home to eleven different official languages and a population made of of 55 million people all from radically different backgrounds. From Afrikaans-speakers and IsiXhosa speakers, to Protestants, Muslims and Catholics, the diversity at play in the Rainbow Nation makes identifying the “typical South African” a very difficult task indeed.



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at 11:07 4

Today, new technologies including information communication technology (ICT) and e-learning have become the driving force in the education sector in Kenya. E-learning is very important in helping people to access education easily. It allows learners to carry out their daily activities and learn at the same time.


edtech


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at 22:23 8
More and more learners are turning to online courses that enable them to participate in primary, secondary and tertiary education over the web and at a distance from campus. Debates rage over how best to implement e-learning, particularly in regions such as Sub-Sahara Africa which are ripe for educational reform. In this article, I explain how blended learning works and why it is the ideal choice for the African continent. Finally, I formulate some effective strategies for rolling out these types of distance education schemes in Africa. This article will be of interest to anyone who wishes to learn more about the latest developments in edtech, and it is relevant both to teachers and lecturers and to learners themselves, as well as being of value to anyone running or wishing to set up an edtech company in Africa.
Edtech Africa

The educational situation in Africa: where we stand now.
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at 10:09 20
Medical education in Africa has significantly evolved over the years. From the time when there were only 5 medical schools in the region, to the expansion era after African countries achieved independence and now when the medical education structure is making efforts in providing mhealth programmes for students.
Online Courses in Africa
Online courses have great potential of improving healthcare in Sub-Sahara Africa. However, the medical education department has had to face challenges including occasional cases of corruption, pandemics, civil unrest, famine and deficiency of resources dragging the progress.
Still, the 21st century has seen many developments in medical education, with the increment of medical schools, improvement of facilities and the curriculum, adapting to a more practical approach and the availability of more scholarships. Nowadays, the healthcare workforce in Sub-Sahara Africa is significantly greater, which translates into a healthier population and better health disasters management.
Whether you are considering joining medical school in Sub-Sahara Africa or being a stake holder in the sector, it is a worthy pursuit. Here is more detailed information about the state of all aspects of medical education, including mhealth, in this part of the world.
African Youth and e-learning.
It is important to note that now more than ever, African countries are turning to online platforms for information and assistance (9th International Conference on ICT for Development, Education & Training, 2014). E-learning materials, including video and audio, are vital in providing skills and information for the continent's population (Iyadunni Olubode, Executive Director LEAP, 2014).
Fast forward to today, 81% of the population are mobile subscribers, 29% are internet users and 14% are active on social media(Digital In Africa 2017, Hootsuite). For Africans to be able to access distance education of medicine and mhealth care and support, more people have to be active internet users.

Health-affiliated phone practices of young people in Sub-Sahara AfricaMajor Challenges
  • Calling for practical and material help during times of sickness or emergencies.
  • Seeking health tips, first aid advice and information on medicines, symptoms and reproductive health.
  • Make enquiries and bookings on medical schools and health stations that have official platforms like website and online courses.

Recurrence of fatal diseases
Unfortunate events like the West African Ebola epidemic which is the most critical in the history of the disease, could have been better managed, if only there were enough doctors. 8,037 people succumbed to the Ebola virus in 2014 (WHO figures, 2014). Lack of information on the symptoms and causes of infection and prevention is one of the reasons why the killer disease spread so fast.

The Ebola epidemic is just one example of how important it is to have a huge health workforce. The lack of enough doctors meant over-shared medical services and little medical education on the disease, for the everyday citizen. For the state of public health to improve in Sub-Sahara Africa, more people have to be medically aware by using universal methods like e-learning. Also, the number of people pursuing medicine has to significantly increase, with m-learning being a brilliant compliment to classroom studies.
Other examples of major diseases that occur too often are; malaria, strokes, HIV/AIDS, respiratory infections and diarrhoea.

Education System: South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya in comparison
Now more than ever, the world is faced with health inequities. In Sub-Sahara Africa, the medical education system is still not in a state where it can produce enough doctors to serve the big population. Deficient budgetary resources, capacity gaps, attitudes, insufficient physical infrastructure and social and cultural practices are examples of things that are making it hard to educate enough doctors in SSA.

Even in countries where there is a considerable number of schools, those institutions lack the capacity to produce a significant number of doctors.

South Africa has eight medical schools with each being under the auspices of Public Universities. The number of schools of health in S.A might not be as many as in developed countries but the country is strict when it comes to licensing and regulating doctors. For example, after successfully completing studies, medical graduates are required to attend a two-year internship and one year of community service, before registering with the Health Professions Council and practising as a doctor. South Africa also offers international exams like USMLE and MCAT.
In Nigeria, improvements in medical education are still underway. For instance, medical students will be required to attend University for a minimum of 10 to 11 years. (Executive Secretary NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, 2016). According to the system, students are supposed to spend four years studying basic sciences, then major into their desired field in medicine for seven years. Many have argued against this policy, citing that 11-year programmes may not be affordable to all people interested in studying medicine.
Kenya has a significant number of medical students, considering the size of their 'Approved Medical Schools' list. There are about 11 institutions that offer medical courses in Kenya. There are also Kenya Medical Training Colleges almost in every county, with some counties hosting multiple KMTCs. Some groups like Community Health Promotions Kenya (CHPK) have also been coming up in attempts of popularising the online courses and idea of 'IT for medical education.'

Medical education in Sub-Sahara is promising. In fact, it is in the process of breaking out of its shell to reach its full potential. However, the governments of African countries need to collaborate effectively with medical staff, stake holders and other medical bodies to reduce the occurrence of strikes. Institutions that offer medical training should embrace edtech and e-learning methods like live webinars, e-books and online courses and revision of exams.
The administering of 'common' exams is also a way of closing the gaps on health, globally. African countries like Ghana, South Africa and Nigeria do the International Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)is available in most African countries, with Egypt, Uganda and Zimbabwe making the list.
Can distance education cause significant improvements in medical courses in Sub-Sahara?
Yes. Almost everything is possible with just an internet connection, in the 21st century. If people can make long-term relationships, sell and buy items, self-publish books, gamble and excel in careers that are solely online, why shouldn't medical education be available via the web? The Masters of Medicine can start being part of the solution by making their courses. lessons and learning and revision materials available online. Video lectures, consultations and e-distribution of learning tools psychologically prepare the medical students for their profession. Nowadays, it is also easier for students to refer to notes and access medical related news, updates and studies, online.
The ministries of health can improve public health by making soft medical information available. Important information includes warning and advice on hotspots for transmittable illnesses like Malaria, contact lists for hospitals and clinics, caution on resistant drugs or medicine that should no longer be in the market or is counterfeit. If mhealth is available for the largest fraction of the populations, positive improvements in health rates will be noticed.
To conclude, the structure of medical education in Sub-Sahara Africa has come from far and is still making noticeable progress. However, efforts to leapfrog into the m-learning generation are still not significantly fruitful. Action should be taken by the concerned bodies to make medical education, guidance, support and information available to students of medicine and the general public.

For more information and insight into edtech, please visit www.apps-for-learning.com

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at 07:29 4
The Univeristy of Cape Town, South Africa will be the First African University to offer Fintech Degree Courses.

University of Cape Town Fintech degree graduates are expected to gain the requisite skills in Blockchain technology and machine learning. In particular, at the end of the course, students are expected to have a mastery of machine learning methods and be able to develop their own applications.



Blockchain technology topics, a broad technology that enables companies to store information in a cryptographically secure and distributed database. The technology allows you to store information in a transparent and accessible but secure ledger. The best-known application of blockchain technology today is bitcoin, a digital currency that has seen a surge in value in recent months. Blockchain technology is also applied in automated supply chain management, health and insurance services sectors.


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at 12:45 28
South Africa is one of the more digitally connected countries on the African continent and there is a variety of Technology Innovation events that take place every year for people to attend.  Some of the events that you can attend are once off symposiums and others are regular events. 
Here are 10 Technology Innovation Events You can attend in South Africa

Technology Events

1.    Gartner Symposium and ITExpo
Gartner is the name most people trust when it comes to facts about trends and direction for just about any industry sector.  From 18 to 21 September 2017 the Gartner Symposium/ITExpo will be held in Cape Town providing CIOs with a clear idea of the current IT and Business trends that are shaping the way South Africa, Africa and the world is working.

More Details: http://www.gartner.com/events/emea/cape-town-symposium#


2.    SA Innovation Summit
The South African Innovation summit will be held at the Cape Town Stadium from 6th to 8th September 2017. This is the premier Technology and Innovation event in South Africa that is a platform for new ideas and growth as well as a showcase of the best innovation in South Africa today. This event brings thought leaders and creative minds together to accelerate innovation in SA and into Africa.

More Details: http://innovationsummit.co.za/about/


3.    Microsoft Tech Summit
Microsoft is key player in the technology and innovation space word wide. Keeping abreast of developments within the Microsoft space is vital and the Microsoft Tech Summit Cape Town from 13 to 14 February 2018 is one of the best FREE learning events in South Africa you can attend.

More Details: https://www.microsoft.com/en-za/techsummit/cape-town

4.  IT Web Digital Economy 2017
ITweb host many IT and Innovation events throughout the year. The ITweb Digital Economy 2017 on at the Focus Rooms, Sunninghill from 7-8 November 2017 puts disruption under the spotlight. When it comes the tech and innovation, disruption is something that both developers and users need to fully appreciate.

More Details: http://www.itweb.co.za/event/itweb/digital-economy-2017/?page=home

5.    Internet of Things Africa 2018
Another very important Tech and Innovation event is IoT 2018 being held at the Gallagher Convention Centre  from 14 to 15 March 2018. Under the title “Powering a new era in operational intelligence”  this event showcases the technology, devices and platforms that will drive and power the future of business.

More Details: http://www.iotforumafrica.com/

6.    Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival
The Fak’ugese African Digital Innovation Festival is a celebration technology, design, creativity and innovation. Held in Braamfontein from 6th to 16th September 2017 is an eye opening event for anyone with an interest is creative technology.

More Details: http://fakugesi.co.za/


7.    Intrapreneurship Conference
Under the title “Africa 4.0: Creating, Capturing and Capitalizing on Opportunities for Growth”  the Intrapreneurship Conference is being held in Cape Town on Friday 13 October. This Intimate 1-Day conference will bring innovation leaders together to discuss how companies and organisations should organise and plan innovation and innovative strategies for growth in Africa 4.0

More Details: https://www.intrapreneurshipconference.com/cape-town/

8.    International Conference on Advances in Big Data, Computing and Data Communication Systems
This 2-day conference aimed at those working in computer science, information systems, communication and engineering presents the latest developments in Big Data, Cloud Computing and computer security among other topics. Held in Durban from 6 to 7 August 2018 the event has some of the top speakers and experts in the industry making this a must for those who technology and innovation seriously.

More Details: http://icabcd.org/

9.    Africa Com
Africa Com is the largest 3-day event showcasing equipment, products and innovative ideas in Telecoms Industry in Africa. Held at the CTICC in Cape Town from 6th to 10th November 2017 this is event is a must for anyone in the telecoms sector in South Africa and Africa.

More Details: https://tmt.knect365.com/africacom/

10.  IT Leaders Africa 2018
Africa's largest CIO event talks tech and innovation to the best from the best ensuring all CIOs and other leaders in industry are equipped with the latest, most relevant and innovation information.  Held at the Century City Conference Cente, Cape Town the event runs from 23rd to 24th May 2018

These are just 10 Technology and Innovation events you can attend in South Africa, there are many more, often niche, events that happen every year providing an opportunity for anyone to learn and grow and find success. 
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at 00:37 7
A new reality for the African real estate industry, which has faced a number of geo-political and economic challenges over the last few years, is starting to emerge, and investors and developers have already started to look into how they can best redefine this new property landscape.

Key Questions Covered in Press Conference:
  1. Leonard Michau, Head - sub-Saharan African Operations at Broll Property Group
Once the darling of African real estate, the sentiment for West Africa has been largely negative over the last two years- is this narrative changing and can we expect Nigeria and Ghana’s real estate markets to start growing again?
  1. Bronwyn Corbett, Chief Executive Officer, GRIT Real Estate Income Group, Mauritius
Grit recently completed a successful USD121 million capital raise. What are new and existing equity providers looking for and is their profile changing? Is there still appetite from London, Europe and the far east and are African pension funds becoming more accessible?
  1. Selwyn Blieden, Head of CPF Coverage: Rest of Africa - Barclay's Africa group (CIB), South Africa, Barclays Africa Group (CIB), South Africa
Which sectors are providing the most promise of growth and sustainability? How do the LTV’s differ cross sector and what assets are lenders finding most defensive?

Where: Online

When: Thursday, August 24 at 11:00 GMT+2 (Time converter: http://APO.af/5Aq6wV)

Who:
  • Leonard Michau, Head - sub-Saharan African Operations at Broll Property Group
  • Bronwyn Corbett, Chief Executive Officer, GRIT Real Estate Income Group, Mauritius
  • Selwyn Blieden, Head of CPF Coverage: Rest of Africa - Barclay's Africa group (CIB), South Africa, Barclays Africa Group (CIB), South Africa

Why: API Summit & Expo 2017 Presenting a New Chapter for African Real Estate

Language: English

How it works: This service is FREE and only requires a computer connected to the internet. Request accreditation here: http://APO.af/nbPg3v

Conference Overview

The Africa Property Investment Summit and Expo (API) is Africa’s largest and most premier real estate event. It connects the most influential local and international Africa property stakeholders, driving advancement and investment into a wide range of real estate and infrastructure projects and developments across the continent. Under the “Developing Africa’s New Reality” the API Summit & Expo 2017 will focus on the following:

Key themes:
  1. African real estate investment and development models realigned
  2. The move towards convenience retail malls
  3. Increasing influence of Pension Funds
  4. Debt restructuring and renegotiation of leases
  5. Lowering of company and construction costs
  6. Effective project delivery and mitigation of in-country risks
  7. Alternative debt and equity funding
  8. The importance of urban design, land registry and valuations in shaping the African cities of tomorrow

Key Topics:
  1. The new terrain: African real estate investment realigned
  2. Insider’s guide to construction costs & procurement in Africa
  3. Cracking the code: capital raising & new debt for African real estate
  4. The seismic shift: African pension & sovereign fund capital moving from stock markets to real estate investments
  5. Cameroon: Africa’s new hotspot?
  6. Designing for density and overcoming the overcrowding issue: How can African cities become more economically dense — not merely crowded?
  7. Expansion, retreat or entry: where to next for Africa’s retailers?

Key Speakers:
  1. Derrick Roper, Chief Executive Officer, Novare Equity Partners, South Africa
  2. Peter Rotich, Pensions Administration at TelPosta Pension Scheme, Kenya
  3. Louis Deppe, Partner, Actis Africa Limited, South Africa
  4. Peter Maila, Investment Director, CDC Group, UK
  5. Somik Lall, Global Lead for Territorial & Spatial Development, World Bank, United States of America
  6. Paul Onwuanibe, Chief Executive Officer, Landmark Group, Nigeria
  7. Maurice De Villiers, Divisional Director, Real Estate Development, Woolworths, South Africa
  8. Archbishop Anthony Muheria, Archdiocese of Nyeri & Apostolic Administrator of Kitui & Machakos Dioceses, Kenya
  9. Thapelo Tsheole, Chief Executive Officer, Botswana Stock Exchange
  10. Mike Collini, Vice President: Development, Sub-Saharan Africa, Hilton Worldwide

Proptech Summit Africa



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at 00:07 1
Nigeria with a growing population of over 150 Million people has the capability of becoming one of the leading countries in the Fintech market in Africa. It is worthy to note that there is a growing Fintech ecosystem in Nigeria which consists of over 50 companies with investments exceeding $200M in the last Two years. These investments spread across different categories which include payments and remittance, lending and financing and a whole lot of relatively untapped sectors which includes wealth management, business solutions, banking and trading.  Fintech is becoming a major component in the payment market and has even become even more prominent in recent times threatening the traditional payment incumbents.
Nigerian Fintech Market
We have seen FinTech grow over the years beyond just money transfer platforms to include many forms of technological innovations in the financial sector. It is important to know that the impact of these financial services goes beyond providing services to providing real value which unlocks opportunities for Millions of people. We have seen how Fintech change the way we do business in Nigeria, turning Nigeria from a cash society to a cashless society and having to sort out transactions with just the use of a mobile phone and an internet connection. Nigeria’s startup has developed effective payment and remittance models such as Quick teller, Firstmonie, Remita, Paga, and a whole lot of others which lets you send or receive money and also make bill payments on these platforms.  Fintech innovations also abound in the Lending and financing sectors with lending platforms such as Aelia, One credit, Paylater and others which allows you to apply for quick loans without the rigors of having to provide collateral. These Fintech innovations can also be found in the merchant services with innovations such as PayAttitude, Payporte, and Slimtraders which are services that goes from inventory management to shopping carts and also allows people pay for items with just the tapping of their phones with the payattitude pad. There are also opportunities in the Banking sectors, with most of the banks like First bank and GT bank which has engaged in mobile money platforms such as *894# and *737#.
With these Fintech innovations, Nigeria has exhibited significant money operations from an average monthly transaction of $5 Million in 2011 to $14.8 Million in 2016. It is obvious that Nigeria is not constrained by the systems of traditional banking industries and has allowed for new technologies and solution to fill in the gaps. It is worthy to note also that in a market, where 86% of its population is uninsured; there are relatively untapped sectors in the Nigeria Fintech Ecosystems. With the emergence of mobile applications that are designed for easy access to transactions, the pace of change in the Insurance sector will accelerate more quickly than can be envisaged.

The Fintech landscape has thrown a wide challenge to the traditional old firms and it is affecting several aspects of the consumer payments thereby threatening to significantly change the dynamics of the industry. With this in mind, it is worthy to note that Nigeria has the potential to becoming one of the leaders of Fintech space in the world and a lot of opportunities are abound in Nigeria.
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at 01:05 12
FinTech is the short form for Financial Technology. This is the concept that envelops changes in the structure and digitization in the financial service industries. These changes result in implications in the entire African financial services. These companies consist both of startups and well established financial technology companies. FinTech services have been embraced in the African market share mainly because the continent has insufficient banking systems. It is estimated that 80% of the continent is unbanked, translating to about 330 million adult Africans who lack formal access to financial services.
Fintech Africa

According to TechBullion Fintech news, there is a huge gap that fintech startups could fill with innovative solutions in Africa. The success and startups of FinTech services have been influenced by several factors within the continent. The fact that about 90% of retail services are paid using cash when compared to Europe, where more than 50 % of payments are made electronically, creating a huge difference. Africa lacks modernity of electronic transactions infrastructure hence the opportunity for FinTech services arises. In retail services, these financial technologies have created an opportunity for banking to people who do not have access to bank accounts. In 47 out the 89 markets where mobile money is used, banks and nonbanks are permitted to offer mobile money services.
Secondly, the startup of FinTech services is a major drive to creativity and innovation in Africa, aiding in sustaining Africa's economy. Enhancing transactions within Africa and outside the continent. As compared to other continents like Europe, growth within Africa will be boosted as it is stil a fresh industry in most parts of the continent.
FinTech companies seek to create transaction solutions within certain areas. These can be in the banking and insurance business sectors. The active and profitable areas in the fintech market are in the following sectors; Data and analytics where financial institutions create a vast amount of data to help manage risks. Artificial intelligence, the creation of data to aid in decision-making and real-time human analysis. Payments, to offer new payments solutions which are secure, efficient and convenient. Digital Currencies, to generate virtual currencies that have no central monetary. Crowdfunding, funding several projects by raising by raising money from a large number of people and organizations.
Few examples of FinTech companies within Africa are M-Pesa in Kenya, the mobile money transfer solution that has changed societies in Africa since 2007 and now conquering the whole world. M-Pesa has over 20 million subscribers in Kenya and 7 million subscribers in Tanzania. Zoona founded in 2009, cellphone money transfer that has attracted over 1.5 million active customers and processed over $1 billion transactions value across 1500 agents outlets. Majorly operates in Malawi and Zambia and now expanding to other African countries. Cellulant, a Kenya-based company founded in 2004, it offers banking services, mobile payments to its customers. GetBucks founded in 2010, online system that enables customers especially the small-scale farmers in remote areas to access short-term loans and other financial aids without the need to visit a banking branch. Space Kenya Networks Limited, Web Development Company from Kenya that aims at bringing together all individual consortiums, organizations and different expertise that will drive the development of technology innovations in the African continent. All these will be made possible by the company plan to launch a blockchain incubator, BitHub.
Several challenges are facing FinTech companies in Africa. This is mainly because of the massive investment required to start up these services. Many of these companies emerge from Europe, and the creation of financial technologies is difficult with the non-existent infrastructure. Compared to westernized countries where the services are just smoothened and made user-friendly because of existing technologies. The African governments rely upon developed countries for grants and loans. This financial assistance is inadequate to promote financial technologies. It is therefore up to the interested FinTech companies to seek an alliance with other related companies from other countries for funding. Also, funding requires a lot of persistence before startup and growth of the FinTech Company. Data security is another risk involved in FinTech services. Hacking and loss of consumer information are a threat. Therefore the use of security applications is put in place to guard against such disruptions and leakage of data.

 FinTech services have shown significant investment globally in this century. The user-friendly applications that have been incorporated in these companies have facilitated faster and efficient financial transactions. They have changed how people pay for goods and services across the continent. Besides the few challenges involved, financial technologies are a great boost to economic development and marketing within the African continent.
References
Arner, D. W., Barberis, J. N., & Buckley, R. P. (2015). The Evolution of Fintech: A New Post-Crisis Paradigm?.


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at 04:46 1
Africa Investments

While the normally favored investment destinations such as Egypt, Angola, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa still get the bulk of foreign development investment( FDI) projects, other countries which were not originally the focus of global investors such as Republic of Congo ,Sudan, Mozambique and Ghana are steadily rising.

Secure monetary growth anticipation

African countries persist on enhancing their GDPs by about 6% each year. New technologies, hybrid seeds, and other essential innovations are a few factors that have added to this continued improvement. In fact, many African countries ranked top with regards to an increased GDP as compared to countries from other continents. Unlike places such as the U.S and U.K that anticipate slow growth in the upcoming years, Africa’s economy is likely to grow considerably over time.

Progressively less aggressive

Presently, there are handful African countries that are beleaguered with wars and civil conflicts. It is projected that 60% of the African population lives in countries that are liberated from hostilities and inconsistency. This is praiseworthy in comparison to Asia, which has a tally of 66%. By encouraging democracy in Africa, Africans have made their nations more attention-grabbing to both home and foreign investments.

Increased household expenditure

Years back, Africans only consumed foodstuff and other products that they created by themselves. However, at present more farmers are producing cash crops for selling overseas. The consumers of coffee, cocoa, tea, milk and several other goods then deposit the money into the farmer’s bank accounts. This indicates that African farmers currently have liquid assets in adding up to their considerable disposable income. The money is spent on manufactured goods and equipments from all over the globe. Shopping malls are sprouting everywhere in the continent.

Demand for indispensable produce

As developed countries go on with their development, they require more vital commodities, which are abundant in Africa. For instance, Africa possesses a loaded gold reserve, and it also holds 10% of oil reserves worldwide.

China’s augmented participation in Africa

Scores of Chinese companies have invested heavily in African countries. The leaders of nations such as China have accepted that they need more resources from Africa in order to finance both their expenditure and development in the future. This has forced Western countries to start considering Africa as a steady investment partner.

Improved wealth creation and large trained workforce

Industrialists, mainly in farming and technology, are producing advances that are generating new professions and income streams. The population African is becoming more hopeful as more people consider that their living will get improved in coming years. Mobile phones are now available in far-flung villages, which are an excellent sign that affluence is getting even those who were considered to be hopeless in terms of livelihood improvement.

Having a large and experienced labor force is a formidable advantage, because investors and international companies get lots of easily trainable and willing employees. This trained workforce is owed to the entire investment that African countries have placed in reorganization of education sectors. In comparison to China and also India, Africa is opening up to become an outstanding outsourcing spot.

Youthful demographics

The advantage, of having young demographics, indicates that African regimes are less held back by pension plans. This transforms to a young and energetic African workforce, for example, the mean age in Nigeria is 19 years as opposed to America where it is 37 years.


Vast cultivatable land

The area, which is appropriate for farming, has become inadequate in other continents. Researchers believe that the globe needs African farmers to augment their agricultural produce significantly.

Increased urbanization

More Africans presently live and labor in metropolitan cities. Urban residents usually payout for everything they use, which comprises houses, haulage, water and provisions. More employment openings are created to gratify for this escalating population.

Gas and oil exploration

Gas and oil discovery has started in the East Africa and the region presently has an increasing geopolitical outline. At present, the area continues to experience a spell of gas and oil allied activities. The unease is that the rush may lead to abandonment of the enormous agricultural sector. The region's governments on the continent must not hurry to rid of the goose that for years has been endowing them with golden eggs. Even with cash from oil, excess reliance on bringing in food from other continents enhances susceptibility, particularly with the instability of food prices in global markets.

Many African countries are becoming functional democratic states, thus magnetizing investors worldwide. In general, new investors are ardent and shy away from developed markets like America for expansion because those markets are not likely to expand as fast as they did in the past. The U.S is, in fact, going to experience lesser investment rates moving forward. There exist other worries like commercial fraud and menace of African regimes. However, in spite of these hazards Africa remains the best continent to invest in as it presents massive benefits.

All these factors combined with the reality that Africa’s inhabitants are flexible, make the Africa continent an apt place for various kinds of investments.

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