Business in Africa

[Ben_nw]

Hi,

I'm here to promote business from and to Africa. Lot of people in this forum have good ideas, why not consider Africa in term of business and financing opportunity ?

I'll be glad to advice, organize or take part if possible.

Regards

Ben

[SAMG]

As much as I tried not to respond to this message, something in my head just kept telling me to do so. And this is nothing against you, as I don't know you. But from my personal experience. I have been a International Broker for about 5 years now, and my experience with African nations has been terrible. Over 5 years countrys in the region have wasted over $100,000 dollars of my customers money and mine, not to mention alot of my time. There are so many areas in this region that just harbor online crooks. And as I said before, I'm not saying this about you, so please don't take it personal.

But from my experience, and I'm sure others have had the same problems. It is very, veryyyyy difficult to find a real supplier, investor, or company to invest with that you can trust from this region of the globe. Yes I know and do believe there are honest hard working companys and people in this region also, but sadly the scammers take the cake in this region. That is why I know myself, I am very, very skeptical of doing business with anyone in this region. Visit www.Alibaba.com , or tradekey. Look thru the resources one time, and you will see what I am talking about. Alot of people won't do business in this region because of how risky it is these days. Please don't take this as a hit on your character, I am saying from my personal Experience.

[DrMoney]

I think I agree...and what is a International Broker and what do you do samg?

[Young Spark]

I believe businesses could thrive if they just thought about it in Africa. I mean, here is my perspective:

I believe that this region is honestly somewhat high in SCAMMER's right now, but if its one thing I believe in, its this. I believe in modernizing Africa, of course it has rich heritage and everything but I believe in also eliminating poverty in certain towns and cities over there. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't want to destroy their natural culture at all, just want to modernise there world a bit, build some schools they can learn and build some "modern things" like we have here... and even introduce some of them to technology.

Its more to me about HELPING these people and giving them a life as we do in America, as they do in Australia, as they do in China, etc. Introduce some of the towns to automotives, build some townhomes and build a McDonalds, etc. This is my main goal and dream in life, basically, give them a feel of the U.S. (Just without the problems of Bush ) But you should see what I'm saying, not that I can build an entire town/city on my own, but it'd be worth a try to see them succeed. I thought life in the U.S. was hard but after watching a special that Jay-Z documented when he was over there and their hardship... it changed my point of view, compared to Africa... we got it EASY!

Point of the matter is, we need to help modernize THEIR world just as much as ours. That means help build them roads, help them construct productive businesses, develop a educational future for the children and modernize their living abilities, and even building medical centers and hospitals to nourish their life. A medical assistance program (to help pay for medical attention) could also be a source of helping out. This means building homes that have running water, give them electricity and expanded technology. Of course, like I said, the main 2 points is:

1. Modernize Present Day Africa
2. Preserve Their Culture

Of course, I'm not MLK or anything, but as I said, I'd like to one day accomplish something like this (building a good size city/town in Africa that will help modernize the entire Africa country in a way or atleast my view can be a start to it.)

[Will]

Yeah, I think putting business into the African nations could greatly help them, giving the people an income.

Although you would need to send people over there to run it, it would be lucrative, for you and them

[dosrotties]

Wow, You need someone big with credibility to do it. and a good working relationship with the government. Who knows what type of favors they would ask and how corrupt the area is. I would guess an area with good natural resources too. If there's oil they are probably already doing it.

If anybody has that award winning African Idea I can pull some contacts I know several people from there and have lived there.
but you have to do you political home work.

[Will]

The dictators there will want extra money or your head on a plate, not much of an exaggeration there haha

[Young Spark]

^^ I agree, I'm not looking to persue my "humantarian goal" in king at a timetable of 10-15 years from now possibly. We'll see what happens so dosrotties, keep in contact w/ me.

[Ben_nw]

I'm happy SAMG took his time to express his feeling about business in Africa. What he is writing is correct. Scams have given a bad image of what business in Africa can turn into. We all received in our mail incredible proposals but let us not be naive! I'm not considering them as business proposals they are dishonest proposals from the beginning. People accepting to go into those ventures are ready to corrupt and get involved into illegal operations. Crooks are clever anywhere in the world. They make you dream of huge benefits. Investing in illegal operations in Africa just make those investors forget their morality. For them Africa is a continent without laws. Behaviors people won’t have in the western world will just be considered like the African way of doing things! Of course Africans are to blame. They perpetuate this image by taking advantage from this ancient colonial consideration. Those scams exist because both parts want quick and easy money even if it involves corruption, illegal financial operation, stolen money etc.

This being said, my purpose in this forum is to promote genuine business from and to Africa. It is more difficult for a western company or individual to have a correct idea of how to apprehend business in Africa. Dosroties just mentioned the need of solid contacts. She is right but let me temper this by saying contacts can turn to be obstacles. Finding the right contacts and connections will help you achieving your goal. I can help with this type of intelligence.

Young Spark has a humanitarian approach. Of course Africa needs everything from food to houses, from nurses to hospitals, from teachers to universities, from agriculture to high tech technology. To achieve that Africa has to increase its businesses. NGO’s have never developed any countries. Africa needs jobs to elevate the standard of living of its people. Investment is the only key !

[Will]

It is not viable to try and sell products in Africa right now, I think there needs to be warehouses put in where people can assist in the making of products at cheap prices (although good in their standards). There is no points trying to sell things to people who have no money. Factories would bring in money and a much better way of life for a lot of the African people if they were done properly, not just to exploit them as cheap labour.

[Young Spark]

^^ That sounds like a great idea, but why add a factory, they can make items and grow items as it is now so natural resource can provide its own. I believe with some businesses doing like Will recommended (adding some warehouses) or building some legitimate businesses, the entire Africa can be turned around in great proportions.

I'm all for supporting legitimate business, but the hardest thing to do is alter the lack of integrity for Africa. Build some legitimate businesses, build up a strong economy by adding some jobs there. Of course, so it was stated, Africa doesn't have laws (not sure if its true) but maybe it'd be smart to enforce some rules. I talked to my friend (and he's african american) and I told him how it'd be cool if Africa was built up, but unfortunately nobody wants to do business over there because of SCAM's - his reply "assuming the word of one shouldn't defy an entire continent." I'm not sure if this is proper to say but I agree with him. Me myself, if I knew I had some support from the people of Africa... I'd be more then willing to invest in giving some growth to the economy over there by trying to incorporate some modernization. Although you can't force one person to be something there not, you can let them have the opportunity.

[dosrotties]

Dosrotties is a he but the pic of the dog is a she. I personally think Africa will blossom in 20 years. well, we can support the humanitarian effert now to educate and supply water prep for infrastructure etc. Is there a possibility for tourism. Good reputation helps keep the tourism strong and corruption or bad business chases away the money. The simple concept is the Goverment wins by being nice. How do you provide and build a high standard of tourism? This provides money so the people can sell their hand crafts and so on preparing them for the future.

I must say I have not thought about going to Africa for a good time. I'm so ignorant I think suffarri and wild animal and blood diamonds.
what do they really have there?

[steven.ruddell]

African nations have people who live in that country who need work. What I would personally propose is an organization that create a strong infrastructure to create great market possibilities in Africa. This organization would have to be fairly large. They would provide income through middle class and labor jobs that would flood the market with consumers. Then provide education that will be proposed by the organization, funded through the government by taxes the new income creates. This education system would produce better employees to further the expansion of the African economies.

Basically, the African nations would be run by a large corporation until other people started branching out and creating other businesses.

[Will]

Young Spark - there are laws, but there are also dictators who do not follow them and break them themselves, and warlords who become stronger and overthrow the governments. The warloads rise due to the bad conditions people live in, so the warlods get the support of the people because they think that if they take over, the standards will be brought up, but the warlords end up only in it for their own riches which then causes the downwards spiral of poverty and anarchy.

Going into some parts of Africa and giving people power (money) would actually be quite dangerous, I see it to be like the builders etc. who are in rebuilding Iraq at the moment from places like the US, Britain and Australia, needing constant professional security forces surrounding them as they work because they are hated by some of the local people. Warlords and dictators would either not give clearance or make it very hard for the businesses to cope in their countries and therefore it could be just a big waste of time and effort. I would like to see it work though!

[Ben_nw]

From the beginning of colonial time to independency African countries were exploited for their natural resources. Wealth was just sent and retain in Western metropolis. Africans were just compulsory assisted people. After forty years of independency the still are! Assistance doesn’t work for different internal and external reasons. We need to change the approach. If recently the Asian nations developed, it was without assistance. It was through business. Why can’t we work to have the proper environment for human welfare and business success?

Tourism business seems to attract investors but there are not enough. Wild, natural games are there but not sufficient infrastructures to accommodate visitors. Africa needs hotels, lodges, restaurant, airstrips etc. Any party interested in this type of venture should just start to consider it seriously. There is a huge potential.

Mining and oil exploitation are also a good and profitable way to invest in Africa. But please do not talk to me about blood diamond. From the beginning of colonial times trade in Africa was a blood trade but coming from Western countries so it was acceptable. Western was controlling the different raw materials extracted or produced. Recent wars in Africa didn’t allow any control from Western companies on different type productions. So they had to find a way of getting back that control before world markets became disorganized. Big Western companies do not care about some Africans dying in wars! In the past, they even financed themselves those wars. So please let us not be fooled by they apparent good conscience.

We have to change our clichés and start thinking differently how to go into genuine business relations for the success of all parties involved.

Africa have a huge potential. Just name one activity and trust me you can implement it. Africa is the continent where you can think of any venture it is needed.