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African Business 2020 edition

  • Text
  • Agenda
  • Business
  • Invest
  • Union
  • Industry
  • Sustainable
  • Development
  • Regions
  • Trends
  • Sectors
  • Afcfta
  • Trade
  • Investment
  • Africa
  • Global
  • Continent
  • Projects
  • Economic
  • Infrastructure
  • Countries
A unique guide to business and investment in Africa. Global Africa Network is proud to launch this inaugural edition of African Business 2020 at a time of energetic planning for a prosperous future for the continent. The African Union’s Agenda 2063 is much more than a document about a hoped-for future, it contains concrete goals and deliverables. The Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) and the development finance institution, the African Development Bank (AfDB) are already rolling out valuable projects that are changing the reality on the ground in vital areas of the African economy. Perhaps the most significant event of recent times is the signing by African leaders of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement (AfCFTA) which will bring together all 55 member states of the African Union and cover a market of more than 1.2-billion people. African Business 2020 has articles on all of these recent trends, plus overviews of the key economic sectors and regional and country profiles. In 2019 Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed received the Nobel Peace Prize for peace-making efforts in his region. The economic dividends of peace are beginning to be felt. In 2020 South African President Cyril Ramaphosa assumed the mantle of AU Chairperson. He brings to the role considerable experience in conflict management, constitution-writing and seeking consensus. Global Africa Network is a proudly African company which has been producing region-specific business and investment guides since 2004, including South African Business and Nigerian Business, in addition to its online investment promotion platform www.globalafricanetwork.com

PROFILE South Africa A

PROFILE South Africa A new president has promised to tackle corruption. Capital: Pretoria (Tshwane) Other towns/cities: Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London, Bloemfontein Population: 55.3-million (2018) GDP: 8-billion (2018) GDP per capita (PPP): 686 Currency: Rand Regional Economic Community: Southern African Development Community (SADC), Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Landmass: 1 214 470km² Coastline: 2 798km Resources: Coal, gold, chromium, antimony, iron ore, manganese, nickel, zinc, rare earth elements, uranium, diamonds, platinum, copper, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits. Main economic sectors: Mining, automotive manufacture, agriculture, tourism, financial. Other sectors: Agri-processing, chemicals, fertiliser, iron and steel, machinery, food and beverages, boat and yacht building, ship repair. New sectors for investment: Renewable energy, water, tourism. Key projects: National Development Plan (NDP) aims to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality. Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). Chief exports: Iron ore, manganese, gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment, agricultural products. Top export destinations: China, US, Germany, Japan, India, Botswana, Namibia. Top import sources: China, Germany, US, Saudi Arabia, India. Main imports: Machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, scientific instruments. Infrastructure: Roads 750 000km, of which 158 124km paved (2016); railways 20 986km (2014); 144 paved airports; four crude oil refineries; multi-product pipeline from coast to inland areas; major ports at Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay and Saldanha Bay. ICT: Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 168 (2017). Internet percent of population: 54% (2016.) ICT Development Index 2017 (ITU) ranking: 92. Climate: Coastal areas range from dry along the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean in the south-west to subtropical on east coast. Interior is mostly dry and semi-arid. The Drakensberg Mountains separate the east coast from the interior. Religion: Christian, traditional, Muslim. Modern history: After an intense struggle against the racist policy of apartheid, democratic South Africa installed Nelson Mandela as its first president in 1994. Thabo Mbeki’s two terms as president were marked by efforts to connect with other African countries. He was ousted by his party, the African National Congress, before the end of his term. President Jacob Zuma was also removed by the party, amid accusations that the president and his supporters were responsible for wholesale looting of the state. President Cyril Ramaphosa was inaugurated in February 2018. Several arrests were made in late 2019. AFRICAN BUSINESS 2020 78

Where the World meets Africa What makes the Durban ICC Africa’s Leading Meetings and Convention Centre? The 112,000m 2 Durban ICC is renowned for 5-star service and facilities, state-of the-art technology, mouth-watering African cuisine, and of course, its unique location on Durban’s sun-drenched shores. What sets it apart, though, is the unique African soul that infuses and inspires every meeting, conference, exhibition and event to create truly unforgettable experiences. *Voted “Africa’s Leading Meetings and Conference Centre” 17 times at the World Travel Awards. ISO9001, ISO 14001, ISO22000 and OHSAS18001 certified. TGCSA 5-Star Graded and AIPC Quality Standards Gold Certified. 79 AFRICAN BUSINESS 2020 AFRICA’S LEADING CONVENTION CENTRE

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