africa Archives - Page 2 of 33 - AfricaBusiness.com

29Mar

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Business

The African Continental Free Trade Area Investment Protocol signalled a new era in sustainable trade and investment

By Michael Foundethakis, Partner, and Global Head of Project and Trade & Export Finance, Baker McKenzie Paris and Virusha Subban, Partner specialising in Customs and Trade, and Head of Tax, Baker McKenzie Johannesburg The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is predicted to increase Africa's trade income by USD 450 billion by 2035 and will boost intra-African trade by more than 81 percent, according to a recent report by the World Bank. Since the start of trade under AfCFTA in 2021, African countries have been implementing changes to diversify their economies, increase production capacity, and widen the range of products made in Africa. To be able to do so effectively, they must attract sustainable funding and investment. Several countries are now trading under the continenta...

The $3bn Private Credit Opportunity in Africa

27Mar

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Business

The $3bn Private Credit Opportunity in Africa

Written by Ali Al-Suhail, Vice President at DAI Magister Africa’s mid-market businesses, the backbone of the continent’s economic growth, can find themselves trapped in a financing void. With annual revenues typically surpassing $10 million, these companies find themselves in a precarious position – too large for microfinance, yet too small or risky for traditional banks. The result, we estimate, is a staggering $3 billion credit gap, a figure that highlights the immense untapped potential for investors seeking globally competitive returns while driving the growth of Africa’s most promising enterprises. The African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (AVCA) reports that out of the $32.1 billion in private capital raised between 2012 and Q3 2021, a mere $1.5 billion was allocat...

Hospitality in Africa is open for increased business

27Mar

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Africa Travel

Hospitality in Africa is open for increased business

As Africa's travel and tourism industry surges, fueled by a growing middle class and a projected CAGR of 8.9% or $731.4 billion by 2032 in the "bleisure" market, the demand for innovative hospitality solutions is booming. A recent report by Africa Outlook predicts Africa will be the world's second-fastest-growing tourism region in 2024, driven by a resurgence in travel and investment. To meet this demand, the Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa, in its 7th edition having undergone a transformation, is set to connect hospitality buyers with a wide range of global suppliers and brands. “The all-new Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa is the ultimate destination for the hotel and hospitality sector in Africa,” says Margaret Peters, Event Manager: Food & Hospitality at dmg events. “And ...

Egypt and the Big 5 Dominate Hotel Development in Africa

26Mar

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Africa Travel, Business, Egypt News

Egypt and the Big 5 Dominate Hotel Development in Africa

When it comes to hotel development across Africa in 2024, just five words tell the story, “Egypt and the Big 5”. In this context, “the Big 5” does not refer to Africa’s major wildlife attractions, (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and buffalo) but to the global hotel chains – Accor, Hilton, IHG, Marriott International and Radisson Hotel Group. This year’s African Hotel Chain Development Pipeline report, widely acknowledged as the industry’s most authoritative source, documenting and analysing the number of hotels being planned and built across the continent, reports a market share of 28% for Egypt and 71% for the Big 5 global chains. The survey, conducted by Lagos-based W Hospitality Group, in association with the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF), is based on responses from 4...

17Mar

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Main, Medicine

Navigating healthcare uncertainty across Africa

While Africa continues to face challenges around healthcare accessibility and cost, there are glimmers of hope on the digital horizon, explains Rodney Taylor, MD at Guardian Eye Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to become home to one in three people by the end of the century with a rapidly growing population and some impressive economic growth statistics. Currently, the region’s population is over one billion with more people living on a wage less than $2 per day than anywhere else in the world. With higher mortality rates for women and children, lack of access to infrastructure and medication, and the high cost of medication, Africa needs smart interventions to overcome the barriers to healthcare access and adoption. Technology has immense potential to help countries across the continent...

6Mar

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Main, Medicine

When the perceived cure becomes poison: Urgent action required to address the illicit trade of counterfeit antimalarial drugs in Africa, responsible for 158 000 deaths annually

According to the World Health Organization, the sale of counterfeit medication is the world’s most lucrative illicit trade. Sadly, Africa has become home to an estimated 42% of the world’s cases of trade in counterfeit medications, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable and desperate of populations living in low- or middle-income countries. Counterfeit malaria medication is estimated to be directly attributable to the deaths of between 64 000 and 158 000 Africans every year. According to the latest stats from the Journal of Vector Borne Diseases, the antimalarial market in some African countries comprises 88.4% fake drugs. In East and West Africa, for example, food substances (among other ingredients) have been used in place of active pharmaceutical components. These additives c...

Unlocking Africa’s travel tech potential within the $13tn global travel industry

9Feb

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Africa Travel

Unlocking Africa’s travel tech potential within the $13tn global travel industry

Written by Adam Aziz, Analyst at DAI Magister In 2019, tourism was a global powerhouse, accounting for 10% of GDP, or roughly $9 trillion. After weathering the pandemic storm, we expect 2023 figures to show a full recovery to pre-COVID levels, in line with data from leading travel platforms and the World Bank. But the story doesn’t end there. A transformative shift is underway, fuelled by evolving consumer preferences and habits, which could push tourism spending even higher to $13 trillion by 2030. Amidst this dynamic landscape, the travel tech sector is witnessing noteworthy developments. Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) are still capitalising on the shift from traditional to digital platforms, gaining a greater share of the travel and tourism market. In more developed markets, OTAs are in...

Unlocking the Power of Gen Z: A Crucial Element in Modern Marketing Strategies

18Dec

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Business

Unlocking the Power of Gen Z: A Crucial Element in Modern Marketing Strategies

In the ever-evolving landscape of marketing, staying attuned to the preferences and behaviours of different demographic groups is crucial for success. Among these groups, Generation Z (Gen Z) stands out as a potent force, and according to Keleabetsoe Rammopo, Head Of Strategy at Penquin, an integrated advertising agency, understanding and engaging with Gen Z is an essential element of a robust marketing strategy. Gen Z: A Dominant Force in South Africa's Population Gen Z, defined as individuals born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, represents a significant portion of South Africa's population, with a staggering 27.5 million people falling into this demographic. As the oldest Gen Z members are now 28 years old, there are high expectations for their economic activity, from purchasin...

18Dec

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Fintech, South Africa News, Startups

Unleashing Africa’s potential: A vision for innovation and entrepreneurship

SA Innovation Summit CEO Buntu Majaja looks back at this year’s successes and quantifies next year’s opportunities. - SAIS2023 brought together 2,600 innovators from 26 countries - The investment capital in attendance equalled around R30 mbillion - Startups are pivoting to or building on AI In the dynamic world of technology and entrepreneurship, the courage and determination of startup founders is invigorating. As the CEO of the SA Innovation Summit, witnessing these entrepreneurs, often unsure of their own capabilities until the moment of truth, fuels a passion for the role and a deep sense of responsibility as an enabler for the industry. It’s believed that everyone possesses an innate desire to contribute positively to the world, and it is this entrepreneuria...

22Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Business

Securing a high value exit in a burgeoning African M&A market

Written by Victor Basta, CEO of DAI Magister Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) has long been a vital part of the global financial ecosystem, with the first deal dating back to the 1870s. Until recently Africa hasn’t developed enough companies of scale for successful M&A to drive highly profitable exits, with M&A on the continent accounting for only 2% of global deal value. However, with Private Equity (PE) funding on the continent decreasing and, more importantly, a whole new crop of African tech-enabled growth companies now reaching continental scale, we are seeing the first indications of a successful M&A exit trend taking shape. To maximize the opportunity, African founders must already begin to prepare their companies to be “bought, rather than sold.” Getting exit pre...