Afribiz: Business & Investment in Africa Podcast

Lauri Elliott and Nwakego Eyisi of Afribiz discuss the negative indicators for African economies, but share while it looks bad it is a good place to be to look for new, sustainable solutions for thriving economies....

Lauri Elliott and Nwakego Eyisi of Afribiz discuss the negative indicators for African economies, but share while it looks bad it is a good place to be to look for new, sustainable solutions for thriving economies....

Professor Mthuli Ncube, Chief Economist for African Development Bank, shares insights from a recent AfDB report, Political  Fragility in Africa....

Professor Mthuli Ncube, Chief Economist for African Development Bank, shares insights from a recent AfDB report, Political  Fragility in Africa....

Donovan Neal-May, Head of the South African Business Link to Experts (SABLE), discusses the role the South African Diaspora is playing in assisting South African entrepreneurs develop market opportunities....

Donovan Neal-May, Head of the South African Business Link to Experts (SABLE), discusses the role the South African Diaspora is playing in assisting South African entrepreneurs develop market opportunities....

Robert Zeger's, Chief Investment Officer for the African Development Bank, provides AfDB's take on the importance of SMEs in Africa....

Robert Zeger's, Chief Investment Officer for the African Development Bank, provides AfDB's take on the importance of SMEs in Africa....

Amrei Botha, Head of SME Banking at Standard Bank, says that 90% of small businesses in Africa are informal. This sector has unique challenges from their formal counterparts, which Standard Bank has taken on as an opportunity. Join us as we discuss with Amrei Botha key insights Standard Bank has learned serving this sector and how the Bank is developing an untapped market successfully....

Amrei Botha, Head of SME Banking at Standard Bank, says that 90% of small businesses in Africa are informal. This sector has unique challenges from their formal counterparts, which Standard Bank has taken on as an opportunity. Join us as we discuss with Amrei Botha key insights Standard Bank has learned serving this sector and how the Bank is developing an untapped market successfully....

Clickatell was at the forefront of sms gateway services in Africa, and is now taking a significant role in the mobile transaction space.  Peter de Villiers, CEO of Clickatell, joins us to share emerging trends in the mobile messaging and mobile transaction space in Africa....

Democracy, governance, and economic growth impact the business environment and the development agenda in Africa. New reports by the African Development Bank shed some insights in patterns seen in elections, coups, and revolutions over the last 50 years.  Professor Mthuli Ncube, Chief Economist and Vice President at African Development Bank, joins us to share insights from the reports and pinpoint key challenges for Africa's future trajectory and how business can be a big part of the solution and opportunity...

China-Africa cooperation is here to stay. The question is how will it evolve. Yanjuan Wang, Executive Editor for ChinAfrica Magazine based in Beijing, shares what they see in this key economic and trade relationship between China and Africa....

Bryan Sidders, head of Prior Institute, joins us to share their innovative business model to provide health care services in South Africa....

Afribiz.fm host, Lauri Elliott, speaks with Jarl Heistee, President of XSML, about investing in SMEs, rather small businesses, in the Democratic Republic of Congo....

Ansgar Kiene of the African Renewable Energy Alliance joins us to discuss renewable energy opportunities across Africa....

In today's show Lauri interviews Derek Kwesiga, founder and managing director of Derekorp Ltd., a Kampala, Uganda-based processor of local fruits and vegetables.  Lauri and Kwesiga discuss Uganda's vast resources and opportunities....

Afribiz’s Lauri Elliot talks shop with Tim Prewitt of Nigeria Markets, a program funded by USAID to improve agriculture in Nigeria. Lauri and Tim talk about the goals and progress of the program, which are to revolutionize the farming industry in Nigeria by increasing commercial agriculture, increasing farm yields, and stimulating investment in sector to develop agriculture in the country for the next generation....

Patrick Devenish, Group Chief Executive of AICO Africa Limited, a Zimbabwe-based agro conglomerate talks with us about his company's expansion and farming efforts on the continent....

As mobile phone penetration grows, so do the opportunities in mobile advertising. Isis Nyong'o of inMobi joins us to share insights about the mobile advertising market in Africa....

Edward George of Ecobank Research joins us to share his thoughts about doing business in French-speaking West & Central 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 spac...

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....

Nothing stays the same and so it is the case with travel in Africa. As the African region emerges, so will its travel industry. In fact, Africa's growth is amongst the best regions through 2020. This growth will not only affect air travel in Africa, but also other regions.  Paul Kehoe, CEO of Birmingham Airport in the UK, joins us today to explain the likely impact of Africa's future in air travel on Europe....

Africa, like other emerging regions, has its challenges, but with the right strategies businesses can be successful. Partnerships are one key strategy for any emerging market and this episode focuses on the experience of multinational firms in Africa. Jumaane Tafawa, Director of Frontier 100 of the Initiative for Global Development, joins us to share what their group of CEOs have done to be successful in Africa....

Did you know that you can make money from planting trees in Africa? As nations and companies struggle to find ways to cut back carbon emissions, the carbon market has emerged. Those who emit high levels of carbon pay those who offset their use. Africans have the opportunity to participate in this market in a big way. Denis Slieker of Face the Future joins us to share insights into the carbon markets work and how African communities can take advantage of the opportunities....

We, at Afribiz, have been sharing about the huge challenges and even bigger opportunities with the booming urban growth in Africa. In this episode, you will get a chance to hear about Tatu City, an innovative city model being implemented in Nairobi. Josphat Kinyua, Director of Tatu City, shares insights into their urban city model. You will even learn something about the Nairobi housing market....

The fair trade ecosystem has been around for awhile with roots in Africa. Today, it is a brand that stands for many things, but at the heart is a system that increases benefits to producers in Africa and other emerging regions while also increase value to the end consumer. Michael Nkonu, Managing Director of Fair Trade Africa based in Nairobi, Kenya joins us to share where the fair trade market is today and where it is going in the future.  Creative entrepreneurs will hear insights to give them perspe...

Beverages are one of the fastest growing consumer goods in Africa. This episode takes a look at the trends in the beer market specifically. Umulinga Karangwa, an analyst with Renaissance Capital, shares key insights....

This episode focuses on working around the challenges in order to take advantage of opportunities in emerging regions like Africa. Shelvin Longmire, Head of the Center for Global Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Management shares his insights with us in this episode. This show is perfect for North Americans looking at opportunities in Africa....

This is the first episode of a two-part series of looking at trends impacting business and economic growth in Africa over the next decade.  Simon Freemantle, a senior analyst from Standard Bank Research, shares insights from his recent report series on the five major trends in economic growth in Africa....

Mobile is a key market in Africa and presents key opportunity for African entrepreneurs to make their mark. This episode shares trends in the global mobile travel app which entrepreneurs may choose to leverage. Tim Daniels from InternationalSOS joins us to share is insights....

Hotel development is good indication of growth in different markets around the world and Africa is no different. In this show, experts from the upcoming Hotel Investment Conference in Casablanca, Morocco share their insights into this sector on the move....

There has been a lot political, economic, and business upheavals in the last decade. Nothing seems familiar anymore. While there are "above-ground" issues that are pushing us into new and strange territory, there is an undercurrent of a new economy. This is a global shift, impacting even local business opportunities. If businesses large or small miss the boat, it will be hard for them to catch up. Dr. Shoshana Zuboff, a Harvard professor and co-author of The Support Economy joins us to help business tackl...

This outlook focuses on the economic landscape of the West, Southern, East, and Central Africa. Nwakego Eyisi, an Afribiz columnist joins the show to share some insights....

Global road warriors are very aware of the ups and downs of travel these days. But for most people who travel occasionally for business, we thought it might be useful to get some tips for making the business trek to Africa, or other global destinations, easier. Doug Reitz, a partner in A Travel Crew, joins us to share some insights into making global travel work....

The environmental factors in Africa makes the continent a shoe in for development of renewable energy technologies.  However, it is only been in the last several years that the market has begun to really open up. In this episode, Kyle Denning with Viability Africa will share insights about the opportunities in renewable energy in Africa....

This episode forms an update and more comprehensive look at how Africa is engaging the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) countries, excluding South Africa, and what it means for entrepreneurs and businesses. Nwakego Eyisi of Afribiz joins Lauri Elliott for the discussion....

Halving poverty in Africa is one of the key millenium goals, but few African countries will meet their goals by 2015.  World Hope International, a non-profit Christian development organization, decided to take an innovative and strategic approach by establishing an exporting zone in Sierra Leone. Richard Schroeder, CEO of First Step which is a for-profit subsidiary of World Hope, joins us to share how the venture benefits the country, development efforts, private sector, and even the poorest communities i...

2010 was overall an excellent year for African stock markets.  However, global stock markets have hit many bumps in the road in 2011. This is also being felt in Africa although not necessarily tightly tied to the global stock markets. Eric Musau, a research analyst with African Alliance Kenya Investment Bank in Nairobi, joins us to share some insights on what is happening in these markets....

Cameroon is country with a budding ICT sector in Central Africa. Joel Nlepe of 24Labs in Cameroon shares some insights into this sector....

Social and impact investing has come main stream with growth exceedign 5% in the U.S. alone.  However, it is still not the most effecient space for social ventures and investors trying to participate. Nexii has launched an investment exchange, IX, for social ventures. Its essentially a stock exchange for social ventures. Tamzin Ractliffe, CEO of Nexii, joins us to share about some of the current dynamics in social investing and talk about how investors and social ventures can get involved with IX....

There has been alot of controversy of land acquisition by foreigners, in particular, in Africa in the last few years. The Oakland Institute recently published a scathing report of U.S. interests involved. In this episode, we suggest the real issue is not land acquisition in Africa, but how it should be done. Nissi Ekpott, Hartmut Sieper, and Lauri Elliott, authors of "Redefining Business in the New Africa," address this issue based on the foundation laid in the book. We focus on the ways to positively u...

DRC is known for its rich mineral deposits, in both a good and bad way.  However, the country is teaming with a variety of opportunities and stories of successful businesses. Mr. James Siggs, CEO of Feronia, which has a subsidiary in the Democratic Republic of Congo, will join us for this episode. He will share what they have learned about doing business successfully in the DRC after more than 100 years of continuous operation in the country....

We hear so much about the conflict in Eastern DRC which reflects a small part of the entire country and overlook the business opportunities in the vibrant Congolese country. One such spot is Kinshasa, the capital, which has over 10 million people according to recent calculations. That means it has more people than New York. It also means its a megacity. With a large population like this, there are obviously many business opportunities. Claude Ibalanky, Chief Executive Officer of Bantu Investments, joins...

People interested in exporting often feel that it takes alot of money to start.  However, according to Dennis Hessler of Spyglass Point, you can start often with existing infrastructure and on a part-time basis. Join us to learn the practical side of starting an export company. While the primary audience are American entrepreneurs, most of the principles can be used by entrepreneurs in any country....

Africa is a significant example of how different types of networks impact governance globally and in countries. There are official networks like government in Africa, but also diaspora, development, business, NGO networks. The mix of these networks impact economic and business opportunities as they impact the environment in which business is done. When we think of government, we think of formal institutions.  However, as Dr. Anne-Marie Slaughter, author of A New World Order explains, government networks a...

Indian and Africa have a long joint history, particularly in East and Southern Africa. However, China has burst on the scene in the last five years, particularly in trade. At the recent India-Africa Summit, Indian and African leaders spoke about how to increase their cooperation based on an agreement a few years back. Within this agreement, there is alot of positive impact on business, trade, and investment. Learn what you as an African business, or a foreign business partnering with an African business, ca...

South Africa is the leading online sales market in Africa, but still in its infancy.  Arthur Goldstuck, CEO of World Wide Worx, shares recent insights into this small but growing market....

While reasons for starting a social enterprise will vary, there is a lot that social entrepreneurs can learn from each other. Manny Ohonme, founder of Samaritans Feet (a Jesus Christ-centered non-profit that provides new shoes to children around the world without them), joins us to share the practical side of building a sustainable, social enterprise that moves beyond traditional models of donations and grants. His experience provides insights that apply to most social enterprises....

Recently, we spoke with Federic Woringer of the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce in France about what they learned about challenges entrepreneurs perceived in doing business in Africa and insights the chamber would share with entrepreneurs to overcome challenges at the France-Africa Business summit this month. The challenges they address also are not foreign to English-speaking businesspeople, so you will find the discussion informative. Why might Francophone Africa be of interest? Francophone Africa consists...

Africa is a huge treasure trove of innovative social ventures. But all organizations face the same dilemma. How do you sustain the organization whether for-profit or non-profit? Today, we begin to take a look at social enterprises that build economic sustainability into their business models.  Kounkuey Design Initiative is an archictectural design social enterprise, specializing in re-inventing public spaces in underprivileged areas. Chelina Ogbert, one of the founders, shares how they look to susta...

The performance of emerging Sub-Sahara African multinational corporations has outshined their counterparts in North America and Europe, yet we know so little about them and how they do it. Mr. Andrew Alli, CEO of Africa Finance Corporation, and Mr. Jumaane Tafawa, Director of Frontier 100 of the Initiativae for Global Development, share how these MNCs are finding great success in Africa and beyond. You can learn from the experience of these MNCs....

Mobile messaging, including SMS, is a significant sub-sector in the mobile market. John White from Portio Research in London shares some insights into this global market and Africa....

Listen to some tips on managing your intellectual property globally. Bill Northcote, an attorney with Shibley Righton in Canada joins us....

Each geographic location has specific competitive advantages for establishing businesses. As a part of our ongoing series, we take a look at the Western Cape province in South Africa, which is home to Cape Town. Nils Flaatten, Managing Director of Wesgro, shares why the Western Cape is a key launchpad into the African markets....

Nigeria heads for parliamentary, presidential, and governor elections, which have been delayed a few days, this month. Many see the outcomes of the elections as crucial to sustain the economic growth path for Nigeria, which has largely been strong. Nwakegi Eyisi, an Afribiz economist, shares why the Nigerian market has remained a favorite for investment and business even with hiccups at times....

Resource-rich Africa is in the spotlight as the world demand continues to grow as markets like China increase consumption. Walter de Wet, Head of Commodities Research at Standard Bank, joins us to give insights on the direction of the commodities market....

ICT is one of the few infrastructure areas in which Africa has made tremendous progress in the last several years. As infrastructure continues to roll out and technology options enter the continent, as well as those developed on the continent increase, the landscape for opportunities and trends change. To keep up us up-to-date, Spiwe Chireka, a Senior Industry Analyst at Frost and Sullivan in South Africa shares her perspective....

This is a re-broadcast of the show run on 2/8/2011. Randolph Oosthuizen, Senior Researcher at African Alliance Securities, provides a review of stock market performance on African exchanges in 2010....

As a part of our annual economic and business review of each African country and region, Nwakego Eyisi shares insights into South Africa's economic and business landscape in 2011....

As a part of our annual economic and business review of each African country and region, Nwakego Eyisi shares insights into Kenya's economic and business landscape in 2011....

Africa has experienced a boom in international broadband with an expected 20 terabits/second capacity in 2012. But, this is not the only important infrastructure pillar. There is terrestial backhaul. Join us as we explore the progress of fiber networks on the continent. Kerem Arsal, a senior analyst at Pyramid Research, joins us....

Join Lauri Elliott for an outlook on Zambia's economy and business environment for 2011....

As a part of our annual economic and business review of each African country and region, Nwakego Eyisi shares insights into Ghana's economic and business landscape in 2011....

This begins our annual series on the business and economic landscape in Africa. This episode focuses on the Africa region, which will follow with country-specific episodes....

There has been alot of change in the last decade as global population shifts occur. These shifts permeate every aspects of society - governance, security, economics, business and culture. From a business perspective, we would like to know what trends will impact the way we do business and this episode takes a look at forecasts for Africa in 2050 the context of business. Dr. Barry Hughes at the Pardee Center for Future Studies at the University of Denver join us....

We start out the year by looking at how to consider stock investments as a global individual investor. This is our opening episode for the 2011 AfriStock Info Series. Tim Hanson, an analyst at the Motley Fool, joins us....

As 2010 comes to a close and the new year comes around, it's appropriate to reflect on the challenges we have faced as entrepreneurs this year and what we will do differently next year to move our ventures forward. Taha Jiwaji, Founder of BongoLive in Tanzania, shares his own experiences this past yearwith us, particularly the challenges he ran into and how he worked around them. You will find both inspiration and a fresh perspective to keep down that entrepreneurial route in 2011....

The EU-Africa Summit finished a few weeks ago. Nwakego Eyisi and Lauri Elliott review some of the key issues which impact business in Africa....

Due diligence is often thought as a negative, antagonistic process when investors and entrepreneurs consider working together - a necessary form of evil. But Lauri Elliott's discussion with Joseph Price of Triomphe Consulting sheds a different perspective while providing practical tips for both entrepreneurs and investors. This episode is a special collaboration with VC4Africa.biz....

Any time a discussion centers around the BRICs, particularly China, in Africa it can swing positively or negatively. However, the truth is that Africa is being seen as an emerging market to the emerging BRICs, so they have interests not only in extracting minerals or making money on projects but also developing sustainable businesses that will serve the growing African economies. One area you can see the BRIC strategic involvement is in infrastructure. While their contribution to infrastructure develop...

In a continuation of Afribiz coverage of major summits impacting trade, business, and investment in Africa and emerging markets, Nwakego Eyisi, and economist and Afribiz expert, and Lauri Elliott discuss the G20 Seoul Summit declarations. This is a conversation from the week of November 15th....

As we begin to wind down 2010, the business scene in Africa is still alive with possibilities. Duncan Clarke, Founder of Global Pacific & Partners joins AfribizTalk to give us a high-level view of business in Sub-Saharan Africa to whet our appetites for more possibilities in the new year....

Cleantech investments are on the rise globally. 2010 figures are exceeding 2009 figures, according to the CleanTech Group. But how does Africa figure in this picture? Kyle Denning of Sustainable Energy Solutions says the Cleantech sector is poised for growth in Africa once a few projects prove viable. Cary Lee Peterson of Ecco2 is convinced that their project in Nigeria is one of those key projects that will open the watershed for cleantech projects on the continent. Both Peterson and Denning join Afribi...

Gauteng Province in South Africa is the 4th largest economy on the African continent after the countries of South Africa, Egypt, and Nigeria, according to Mudunwazi Baloyi, General Manager of Investment, Trade, and Project Facilitation at the Gauteng Economic Development Agency. Baloyi joins AfribizTalk to discuss Gauteng as an asset which investors, entrepreneurs and businesses can leverage to do business in Africa. Baloyi shares that Gauteng is a global city region (GCR), a unified region made up of ...

Last year about this time, Kenya entered the global broadband boom with the landing of the SEACOM international broadband cable. David Owino, co-founder of HumanIPO and intimate with the Kenyan ICT sector, joins AfribizTalk to share about what is going on and where the software development community is heading. Owino says three changes over the last couple of years have positioned the Kenyan ICT market where it is today. First, political and regulatory reforms increased freedoms and competition. For...

As companies shift to take advantage of global markets, a key question is how to develop a strategy that will allow them to compete globally. One company in South Africa, Bizworks, took advantage of government objectives and programs, multilateral agreements, and partnerships across global regions to lay out a global strategy. Mfanu Mfayela, Chief Executive Officer of Bizworks, joins AfribizTalk to share his experience. Myafela explains that Bizworks is involved in the business processing outsourcing...

Born Global firms, a term coined by McKinsey and Associates, are those that provide products or services globally from birth. According to research by McKinsey, Born Global firms see the world as their marketplace from the beginning, not as an expansion to their domestic markets. These firms will often implement their global strategy within two years from inception. On our show today, Ashifi Gogo, CEO of Sproxil, Inc., shares how Sproxil is a Born Global firm operationalized first in Africa. Gogo ind...

Funding is one of the critical factors in the development of entrepreneurial and SME enterprises in Africa. J. Skyler Fernandes, Chief Operating Officer of the South African Chamber of Commerce in America (SACCA), joins AfribizTalk to discuss what is happening with a particular segment of SME finance in Africa – that between microfinance and venture capital. This segment of finance happens to lack a cohesive industry, so it’s known as the “Missing Middle.” The “Missing Middle” includes finance be...

Would you be surprised to know that Africa has 17 countries that on average had GDP rates of over 5% over the last 15 years? These countries have helped Africa position itself as an emerging global trade and business region. And according to Steve Radelet, author of “Emerging Africa: How 17 Countries are Leading the Way," indicators portend more positive movement on the continent moving forward. Radelet joins this AfribizTalk episode to share the insights he gained over twenty years in the internation...

This segment of AfribizTalk covers insights into the specialty food market in Africa and the opportunity to develop more African specialty food brands for global markets. Jim Thaller, Managing Director of Talier Trading Group, joins us. With the food shocks of the past several years, nations and firms are scrabbling to Africa to acquire land so they can secure food supply and make money. It’s as if the world finally realized one of Africa’s great potential strengths, if cultivated. But other...

McKinsey recently reported that the annual consumption of a group of emerging economies would double the U.S. annual consumption within ten years. This group of emerging economies includes the African countries of Egypt, South Africa, and Nigeria. McKinsey's advice is for firms to move early to catch the coming tide. The question is how? Exporting is one means for African and global firms to diversify revenue streams. Unfortunately, entrepreneurs and SMEs can find this process daunting, but there are st...

While the global economic crisis hit the travel and tourism industry hard, Africa had quite a positive picture. In fact, it was the only region that grew in 2009. And the long-term picture for the market is excellent. Edward Bergman, Executive Director of Africa Travel Association, joins us to share the outlook on tourism in Africa based on the "State of Tourism in Africa" report....

The stories of successful African entrepreneurs are endless, but were not widely told until TV personality, media guru, and entrepreneur - Moky Makura - wrote the book, "Africa's Greatest Entrepreneurs." And now with the launch of a new book, "South Africa's Greatest Entrepreneurs," Moky joins us to share about some of Africa's great entrepreneurs and things she has learned from being an entrepreneur, author, publisher, and media personality....

As we enter the fall season of AfribizTalk, we will be taking a closer look at ecosystems that help businesses succeed in Africa. Today, we will look at an Israeli ICT business delegation's recent experience in Cote d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso. Their experience can help others learn how to leverage business delegations. Yonathan Sabban of the Israeli Ministry of Industry and Trade, Philipe Mosbacher of Spacecom, and Israel Koffman of Runcom join us for this discussion....

The East African Community became a common market on July 1 this year. It has over 130 million people making it a market size similar to Nigeria. While the integration is ongoing, businesses and investors are beginning to ask where are the opportunities they can tap even now. Economists Adrian Njau and Charles Yegella from the East Africa Business Council (EABC) join us to share insights into this vibrant African region....

Many African countries have vast potential in agriculture, but still significant gaps in the value chain. This show brings up the topic of agricultural growth corridors as a way to catalyze the agricultural sector and provide business and investment opportunities. We are joined by Arne Cartridege of the African Green Revolution Forum and Sean de Cleene of Yara International....

This segment is the third installment of our review of the "State of ICT Markets in Africa." Guy Zibi, President of AfricaNext, joins us again to share some insights....

This segment continues the discussion of the G8/G20 Toronto meetings as they related to business and investment in Africa and emerging markets in general. Nwakego Eyisi, who covered the meetings for Afribiz, will join us again to share her insights....

As the World Cup draws to a close, what's next for South Africa? Actually, more of the same thing - business. As attested to by our guests on the show today, Jose Cusnir of Softex and Robert Janssen of Outsource Brazil, business opportunities and flows are growing between Brazil and South Africa. Jose and Robert will share their experiences with doing business in South Africa from a Brazilian perspective, focusing on the ICT sector....

This segment allows us to take an inside look at how IBM develops its professionals for the global economy. Kevin Thompson and Mat Osicki share their experiences with the Corporate Service Corps program. Mat shares her own personal story in Nigeria and how that created a passion for the country and the people....

The G8/G20 leaders gathered a few weeks ago in Toronto. While the heads of states met, there was a range of business related meetings contributing to the discussion at the G8/G20. Nwakego Eyisi covered both arenas for Afribiz. She is going to share insights from the field, particularly those that impact business and investment in Africa....

Do you know how much wealth potential there is in Africa? Africa is actually a wealth engine not a poverty engine. A certain number of multinationals, entrepreneurs, and investors have known this for years, but this seems to be still a little known fact overall. The Africa Wealth Cheque Report, by Africa investor and The Africa Group, gives a picture of the assets of Africa. Matthew Thompson of The Africa Group joins us to discuss the interesting insights they uncovered in their research....

Join us for another segment of The State of ICT Markets in Africa for a look at West Africa. Guy Zibi, President of AfricaNext, will share insights into the region and key markets in West Africa....

Kenya is known for its travel and tourism industry, but other industries are thriving as well. The cut flower industry in Kenya is an example. It serves almost every region around the world. Michael King-Ori with KNET Flowers in Kenya joins us to share insights into this strong industry....

Even with the FIFA World Cup in South Africa this month, there is business and investment in Africa going on around the world. Private Equity International held the Africa Forum this month in London focused on how to leverage opportunities in the African market over the next 10 years. Toby Mitchenall, Editor-in-Chief, joins us to share some insights coming from the event....

Africa has some particular challenges, including poverty and unemployment. However, there is a huge population close to 1 billion now and projected to reach 2 billion by 2050, surpassing India and China. What a tremendous market opportunity if companies can only get it right. Doing business in a developing region involves a desire to build a business with some rewards today, but bigger sights set for the future. In a context like this, how can a company make profits while strengthening the local economy,...

The start of the World Cup is only two days away in South Africa. The event is highly anticipated with an expected 2 billion viewers worldwide over the next month. But on the other side, what does this mean for business in South Africa? Stevie Bacher, Business Editor for KayaFM in Joburg, will share what impact he believes the World Cup will make on the local business environment in the short-term and in the long-term....

ICT is on the move across the entire African continent, but unless you're there its a little hard to imagine how the landscape of business is changing. This segment highlights the key movements in the South African market with an eye to seeing other African markets follow a similar path in the next few years. Arthur Goldstuck, a leading ICT analyst and Managing Director of World Wide Worx, shares what he knows about the South African ICT market....

Africa Investor magazine recently conducted the African Brand Investment Index survey to find out what was in the mind of investors about Africa, both the good and bad. Hubert Danso, Managing Director of Africa Investor, joins us to share some of the insights drawn from the survey, including which countries have best brand images in Africa....

Last season we explored tips for managing investments from a legal perspective. This segment will focus on the business and management side of investments. Joining us is Joseph Wambia, CEO of Wambia Capital....

This show provides a unique glimpse of how people get started with doing business in Africa through the eyes of two African Americans living it now. Carlton Owens and Will Smith share their initial experiences and learnings which has led them to partner in a profitable gold mine in Ghana. If you think business in Africa is impossible for you, Carlton and Will will change your mind....

2010 is bringing a change in the business landscape in Africa. The macroeconomic stability maintained by most African countries during the global economic crisis signaled a new dawn of progress in Africa to say nothing of the economic growth rate during the first decade of this century. More eyes are turning to the possibilities in Africa, but ecosystems to support the growth in business and investment still remain fragmented. This show highlights the work of organizations like the Canadian Council of Afr...

Handling business taxes in your home country can be daunting enough, but tax issues in cross-border and international trade adds complexity to the mix. This segment focuses on helping you understand the tax landscape, identify key tax issues you should address, and some practical tips for gaining clarity around this critical business matter in Africa. Reggie Mezu, a Director at The Cragus Group, will share insights based on his experience as a corporate tax advisor for companies globally and in Africa....

This segment focuses on the risk environment and managing risks associated with doing business in Africa. The business media in the West often paints a picture of Africa as a risky place to do business. However, Africa has a much better outlook in managing risks in 2010, according to ControlRisk. Sanjeev Kumar, a director at Delamore and Owl companies, will join us and share his expertise on the challenges and approaches to managing risks in Africa. And finally, AfribizTalk introduces a new occasional co-h...

Funding available for SMEs and entrepreneurs, particularly start-ups, still remains low in Africa. This segment highlights a new, emerging financing alternative called Growth Finance. Guido Boysen, Chief Investment Officer of GroFin, shares what Growth Finance is, how it serves SMEs in Africa, and how Grofin's business model has made it both the pioneer and leader in the Growth Finance industry....

This is a re-broadcast of our January 27, 2010 show. Enjoy!! This segment provides tips for how entrepreneurs from Africa and elsewhere can use the media to promote their businesses in international trade. The guest expert is C. Paschal Eze, a former journalist in Africa and the West. Eze now helps entrepreneurs use the media to build social capital....

We open our 2010 season with a hard hitting but practical approach to doing business in post-conflict countries in Africa. After the genocide in Rwanda in the mid-1990s, Rwanda is emerging as an example of a transition economy gaining its own footing in a competitive global market place only 15 years after conflict. Jacqueline Musiitwa, an expert on trade in post-conflict countries, will join us....

This is a re-broadcast of our live segment on November 4, 2009. Enjoy...This segment focuses on a much sought after resource - investors for your business venture. Many firms spend a tremendous amount of time looking for investors yet get little benefit. In this segment, we will share practical tips and perspectives on African firms’ pursuit of local and foreign investors. Mr. Patrice Backer, Chief Operating Officer of Advanced Financial and Investment Group, will share what venture capital firms look for i...

Welcome to our opening segment on investing in Africa! This segment focuses on successful tips for investing offered by two experts. First, Dr. Richard America of Georgetown University in Washington DC will give us ideas about the landscape for investing in Africa. Second, Attorney Peter Hansen, who specializes in African investment law, will share insights on what to do before investing. Come join the conversation!...

This is a re-broadcast of our live segment on October 21, 2009. Enjoy...Just like any business venture yours can work beautifully but if it doesn't draw customers it fails. Extending your product to other markets can be challenging. This segment will explore the issue of market access and market entry. Different experts will join the discussion. Dr. Emeka Nwankwo, CEO of Vertical Optimization, LLC. will share tips for market entry. Vertical Optimization, LLC is the managing partner of Export-Path. Our othe...

This broadcast starts a quarterly dialogue on the business landscape in the agriculture and food markets in Africa. We'll continue our discussion with Dr. Pat Wilson, aka "Dr. Patrick," on how to make AGOA work as a business person or investor in Africa or elsewhere. Also learn about opportunities and paths of success that we discovered while at the recent U.S. - Africa Business Summit in Washington, D.C. Finally, we will begin a discussion on the opportunity for African businesses to tap into markets in o...

This segment focuses on a problematic sector for the African consumer - food. Yet, out of the challenge are huge business opportunities. We'll also have an expert, Dr. Patrick Wilson, sharing how the African Growth Opportunity ACT (AGOA) can be used to export agricultural products from Africa to the United States....