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
CONTENTS CONTENTS
CONTENTS CONTENTS AfricanBusiness • 2020 • Edition 1 Introduction Foreword 10 AfricanBusiness2020 is a unique guide to business and investment in Africa. Special features Africa’s big chance 12 Large infrastructure projects and an increase in intra-African trade could be the platforms to launch the continent into a new era of prosperity. Engines of growth 16 Giant cities and development corridors are vehicles for tackling Africa’s infrastructure gap. Towards free trade 20 A continent-wide free trade agreement promises to unlock enormous value. Success comes in many guises 28 Ethiopia and Mauritius show there is no single formula for putting a country on the road to progress. Economic sectors Agriculture 32 Huge challenges present massive opportunities. Mining 36 The global economy is demanding new minerals, and Africa has them. Oil and gas 44 Huge new gas finds could be transformative. Energy 46 Africa’s development depends on a power revolution. Manufacturing 52 Growing the sector is key to higher levels of development. AFRICAN BUSINESS 2020 6
