Words of wisdom for doing business in Africa Published by Jaco Maritz on 7 April 2011 Africa is not for the faint-hearted, but it is the place to be,” Johan van Deventer, managing director of Freshmark, recently told the Africa Economic Forum conference in Cape Town.
Nigerian market opens up for clothing retailers Published by Jaco Maritz on 5 April 2011 Nigeria’s decision to lift a ban on imported textiles is opening up many opportunities for foreign clothing retailers.
New breed of airlines opening up African skies Published by Jaco Maritz on 30 March 2011 Africa’s airline industry has turned a page with a number of world-class carriers emerging, eager to capitalise on the continent’s growing income levels.
How mobile phones are transforming African agriculture Published by Jaco Maritz on 28 March 2011 Mobile phone technologies are presenting Africa’s smallholder farmers with an unprecedented opportunity to run their operations more productively and to grow their own income levels.
Asset management firms attracted to the Cape Town lifestyle Published by Jaco Maritz on 22 March 2011 Cape Town’s favourable lifestyle is one of the major reasons why many of South Africa’s asset management firms are based in the city as opposed to the economic hub Johannesburg.
Ugandan seed company focusing on more than just profits Published by Jaco Maritz on 22 March 2011 In just seven years Victoria Seeds managed to grow from nothing to one of the largest seed companies in Uganda. How we made it in Africa talks to Josephine Okot, founder and managing director of the company.
Africa not a hopeless continent, says Christo Wiese Published by Jaco Maritz on 18 March 2011 South African businessman Christo Wiese says he is an Afro-optimist and sees great potential in the African continent.
Parmalat pushing into Africa; powdered milk remains a challenge Published by Jaco Maritz on 18 March 2011 Dairy producer Parmalat is experiencing an increase in demand for its products from the African continent.
Why socially responsible investing should not be seen as a burden Published by Jaco Maritz on 15 March 2011 “At the end of the day, socially responsible investing should be seen as investment risk mitigation.”
Seeing opportunity in Mauritania’s challenging business environment Published by Jaco Maritz on 10 March 2011 Mauritania is one of the world’s toughest business environments. Private equity group ECP, however, chose to rather focus on the North African country’s potential.
Angola’s business environment showing signs of improvement Published by Jaco Maritz on 9 March 2011 Although Angola is still an “ultra challenging” market, the country’s recently upgraded infrastructure and a government with a new focus on transparency is likely to make it easier to do business.
Should Cape Town companies pay higher salaries? Published by Jaco Maritz on 7 March 2011 There is a general perception among many South Africans that they can earn higher salaries in Johannesburg than in Cape Town.
Ugandans have mixed feelings about how oil will affect their lives Published by Jaco Maritz on 3 March 2011 Ahead of the proposed start of oil production next year, Ugandans have mixed feelings about how crude will impact their lives.
Africa one of the last frontiers for advertising industry Published by Jaco Maritz on 23 February 2011 International advertising agencies are scrambling to get a foothold in the African continent – described as one of the last great frontiers for the industry.