Once upon a time there was a negative perception that emotionally associated Africa with famines, poverty, diseases, dry plots and scorching deserts. These associations, mostly based on second-hand information, neither did Africa any justice nor provided an accurate perspective of the continent.
Anyone who has a good understanding of Africa as a continent and the opportunities within will tell you that Africa is a not only a vibrant, intimate and pleasant region but has an innate growth factor, a powerful ability accompanied by a huge potential to self-sustain and self-rely.
Africa continues to be a glowingly natural-rich continent. Truth be told, Africa is a place where anyone and everyone is now beginning to call home. Large quantities of untapped natural resources have always been in abundance in this region offering enourmous opportunities to all spheres of society. Most parts of this continent are currently making noteworthy gains from different sectors such as agriculture, mining, coal and gas as well as oil – these gains continue to impact positively to the global Gross Domestic Product, indeed Africa has a strong and rich position within the global economic platform.
It is for this reason that:
· Companies are currently in the process of crafting business strategies and organisational plans on how to positively take advantage of the opportunities presented by the region.
· Influential groups are scratching their heads, debating issues and searching for solutions on how to ensure that this continent is projected in a favourable light.
· Entrepreneurs are presently finding smart and clever ways to align themselves to reputable brands which are anticipating an end-result that is no longer just a vision for the people of Africa, but a reality.
Throughout the continent work-forces are strengthening, the infrastructure is improving and service-delivery is getting better – all this is being enhanced in order to match and meet African needs positioning Africa not just to be a sustainable destination but to be a hospitable home for everyone!
In Sub-Saharan Africa agriculture continues to make a huge economic contribution. On average this sector which is usually taken for granted, accounts for almost 20% of the total GDP of Sub-Saharan Africa. In most African countries, agriculture is the backbone of economic growth and approximately 65% percent of Africans rely on it as a primary source of livelihood. According to the latest research findings, Sub-Saharan Africa has a potential to become the world’s largest agricultural producer by 2020.
In West Africa, mineral production constitutes significant parts of the economy. This region has a wealth of mineral assets and ranks first or second in quantity of world reserves of cobalt, diamond, phosphate rock, platinum-group metals (PGM), vermiculite, and zirconium with gold remaining Africa’s main mining resource.
In East Africa, natural magnets such as oil and gas are continuing to boost the African economy, attracting global investors and fuel investment activities.
North Africa has never run short of a wide variety of valuable crops including cereal, rice and cotton, and woods such as cedar as well as typical Mediterranean crops such as olives, figs, dates and citrus fruits – thanks to the Nile’s nurture effect?
As Africa regains its rich ground, anyone (whether in business or from a personal point of view) who doesn’t have an “Africa Strategy” outlining at least a 3-7 year plan on how to play a meaningful role within the continent should hang up their boots. This is the time to make a choice: either go big or go home because Africa is ascending to its rightful place of being a self-reliant, prosperous region.
Today, as Dr Dlamini-Zuma is announced as the AU chairperson in Addis Ababa at the 2012 African Union Summit, African leaders are expected to unanimously recommit to smarter investments opportunities within the continent in order to help break some of the vicious cycles of poverty and hunger that will be a thing of the past ….as Africa unites to become the firm, healthy and sustainable brand it has always been!
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