Is it the right time to invest in Africa?

Of course it's the right time....oh or would you prefer the backwardness of the continent persists? If there ever was a right time to invest in Africa it is now. This is what is needed rather than the age-long attitude of throwing money at us (Africa) in the name of Aid. Invest your money here. Simple.

Oh and thanks for using the picture of the naira...well appreciated.

Yes, it is the right time to invest Africa rather then given Aid, there is more business aportunity interm if long term and short term investment.

i would like to see all Aid coming to Africa transformed into investment and so jobs can be creating, if jobs created then provertly will be washed, poor people and beggers can think of having job and working rather then begging.

Abdinour Obsiyeh

Yes, investing the market through profit and engaging citizens from a profit angle is the way to for Africa out of poverty.. This is very clear and we hope the likes of Bono, i am not sure how successful he has been as businessman,maybe selling his music..I do not know what else he has done..let him confine himself to these activities with the motive of making profit and not finding a clever way of getting free money again. International aid that has come to the continent through charity/NGOs has not made any impact all.. other than leaving Africa more negatively viewed at the international level.

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[Personal details removed by Moderator] I am part of the large African Diaspora community in Europe. However, my future goals will not be in Europe but instead in Africa!

If Chinese entrepreneurs are able to travel several thousand of miles from home and start successful businesses in Africa, then why can't Africans and in particular the Diaspora community invest back home?

There is wealth to be made in Africa and it should be us Africans to invest and gain from our wealth!

I just read today's business news and found out that the Abu Dhabi investment fund, Invest AD and Japan's investment company SBI will jointly invest up to $100m in African businesses!

Africans...lets us be the ones to benefit from our wealth!!!


London, UK.
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Seriously is this the only question you can ask? This is so disappointing and disgraceful.
I cant believe you guys. When do you thin is the 'right' time? 2099?
Off course there are countries in African that from an investors point of view might not be conclusive but there are good once and some even better than most European countries (Botswana, Ghana, SA, etc compared with Romanian, Serbia, Lithuania etc).

Please Ellen, next time visit Africa...

I think few countries like Nigeria that do not rely on western aids will benefit from investments. I do not see the aids most African countries are given getting to the targeted people. Invest in the economy, education etc and you will these countries get transformed.

[Personal details removed by Moderator]Why should we allow politics to retard our progress?Anyway,we really need to define the political institution very well for the politicians so that the sceptics will be guilty if not then they are right to say that! We shouldn't forget Mr Geldof says he can bring more wealth to the continent by investing in business rather than campaigning for aid.I really like that. Human beings sometimes take pride in aids and grants and they are all not free.There are numerous conditions attached to those aids you'll make your mind to go for!We should learn to invest regardless the start-up.I will motivate him morally.

While I love my continent and would like to see it become like the west in developement, I am afraid to say that monetary aid would probably not help the poor africans who actuallly need it.
corruption is so rife that it is hard to trust anyone. Even when international organizations like the UN and EU donate aid for specific projects, the aid is seldom used for the designated purposes. Most often, a sizeable portion of it finds its way into pockets of corrupt politicians.
The most effective way to give aid to Africa is to create businesses that would employ the indigents and help the economy. Giving aid in cash is like giving the keys of the cheese storage to the mouse and hoping he will control his apetite.
As long as corruption is rampant in Africa, monetary aid will most like enrich a few and leave the poor unprovided for.

Whoever is asking if Africa is ripe for investments is probably over 400 years late with the question. The first European investors in my local community arrived around the late 17C. Most of global blue chips especially in fast moving consumer goods have well established presence in Africa which date back to over 100 years. Thus in the real essence of it, overseas investments in Africa have been on and will continue.
The real issue should be: what are the terms and basis for investments and business in Africa. I'm of the opinion that there should be a greater propagation of fair trade, transparency and high disclosure levels for overseas investments in Africa. We need a clean break from the practises of the colonial past that led to the saying: “they gave us bibles and took our land”.
There cannot be different sets of rules for foreign investors who come to Africa especially when these rules promote corruption and prosper bad leadership. Investors in Africa should play by the global rule books.
In addition, the exciting returns from investments in Africa especially in a country like Nigeria (despite all the odds) implies that serious investors seeking to diversify portfolio and improving returns should seriously consider Africa as a choice destination.
Even the so-called huge infrastructural deficit in actual sense represents a major gold mine for investors.
On the issue of aid, the poverty levels, infrastructural needs and inadequate resources to address these challenges implies that Africa would still be dependent on foreign aid especially when this foreign aid is being channelled to seemingly forgotten but crucial issues.
However, for this foreign aid to achieve the intended objectives, donor countries and agencies must demand higher transparency levels in the management of these aids. The proper management of these aids will lead to a positive transformation of lives in Africa and serve as the major index of appreciation to the overseas tax payers funding these aids.

The only route for African development is not aid but rather more investments. There has never been a better time than now to invest in Africa. I say this in light of how many educated entrepreneurs and enegetic African people we have at the moment. Africa turbulent political climate can be a thing of the past if there is more investments coming to africa and profits are been shared equitably. Political turbulance in Africa, many a time is a consequence of unjust sharing of of wealth and opportunities.

The world needs to stop feeling sorry for Africa and try to help by all means pssible to empore Africans through billion dollars investment. Believe all these things that investors are scare of are has a result of poverty. Eliminate poverty in Africa through investments and see if there are going to be any wars or political turbulance as you call it.

There's nothing as nice as spending money you havent worked for. Continue giving donations and watch our african leaders spend it on buying expensive vehicle and houses.

The question here should be why people do not think it is the right time to invest in Africa?!?! Let us remember that the financial crisis was exported here; it did not originate from Africa.

If there ever is such a thing as the right time; it is most definitely disputable to say it is now! plenty of arable land; untapped markets; abundant labor ... need I say more?

africa should look to the east...the west has never done anything in favour for africa.south africa's biggest trading patner is now china and am extremely happy about that.gives one leverage for negotiations

Africa is a very rich continent but poorly managed. Giving us aid will not solve any problems but will leave us begging for more. Investment is the way forward and for those who are worried about the infrastructure, you know what? infrastructure will only improve through your investments. So if you want to see infrastuctural improvement, then invest in that. the world is becoming a global village and it's high time we worked together to make it a better place.

It is the right time to invest in Africa, Africa cannot continue to depend on aid. Its high time Africa lay its own rules for the future.

i think time is ripe enough for fully investing in Africa. with our new constitution in Kenya we see doors open clear for foreign investment. its time for us to be weaned of the aid which has proven to not work over embezzlement. lets do business Africa!!

What sort of question is this?! Any time and all the time is and has been the best time to invest in Africa. I dont see why we should be asking if at all it is the bast time to invest in Africa.

We see today that China is investing a lot in Africa, can we all join it. Look the only way we will get out of this poverty is if we invest in Africa. This continent has lost a lot of time and so now is the time to develop it . Lets call upon all our brothers and sisters who have left the continent to come back and develop the economy of Africa.

Greener pastures are right here in Africa! We can make this continent bright and a super power only if we work together and we can also make it a United Africa.

I strongly agree with the sceptics and want to add another destroying factor there which is corruption that is eating up my native Liberia.Donors and governments are singing halleluya to governments of their choice but I want to say that investment in Africa at this time may be right but there should be conditions attached by donors or governments to stop decisions makers and officials of governments from having free hands in making decisions as to which sectors need investment. Investors should be given chance access where investment is needed and given opportunity to explore and evaluate

Good people, in the rush to post comments I think the bigger picture was overlooked. The anti-poverty campaigner wants to set aside US$ 1 billion?! This is a joke!! What will USD 1 billion do? What type of projects are they looking to invest in? Chicken farming?

Lets get serious. I put it to you that even with noble objectives, there is a tinge in the way Africans are viewed. USD 1 billion is fronted as a lot of money for poor Africans but if you consider the amount of money send by Nigerians, South Africans, Ghanaians and Kenyans among others in diaspora, USD 1 billion begins to look like child's play. Don't get me wrong, I am all for investing in Africa but USD 1 billion? Lets get serious people!!

Thats just my opinion, I could be wrong.

I agree that it is time to invest in Africa. A lot of potential in people and natural resources is either wasted or exploited. Therefore, in my opinion it is time to invest in Africa but in a way that will allow Africans to profit from these investments too. Unfortunately many of the "investors" are only interested in pillaging the rich resources of the continent and giving nothing back. That is why the people need to find the courage to fight corruption and reach for more democratic, just governance. Maybe cooperation is a better word than investment now that I think about it. Cooperation on an equal footing: the investors will profit but so should the people of the continent. Rules must be laid that will respect the rights of both sides

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Bob Geldof should be ashamed with himself for coming up with another scheme to further plunge Africa into more poverty and deprivation by staying away from the truth. When did he realise that AID to Africa wasn't what Africa needed? Does he know anything about the current infrastructural conditions in Africa? How can there be meaningful investment in Africa without the basic enabling environment for such investments? Take Nigeria as an example, where there is erratic power supply, bad and dangerous roads, poor communication and IT facilities, CORRUPTION, infact the list goes on and on. If Bob Geldof has good intentions, he should be clamouring for basic infrastructures to be developed and put in place first before any talking about raising any money for investment. He should also know that the $1billion dollars is something that any former or present Head of State in Africa can give out without thinking twice. So my advice for him is to channel all his efforts and campaign into ending corruption in Africa and also building relevant infrastructures.

I strongly believe now is the time to invest in Africa. If it was a perfect climate for investing everyone would be there. This is why there are opportunities for those who persist and are unafraid to take on the risk. But to say we need to stop development aid is a bit short sighted and I would argue its possibly in the combinations the most can be achieved. Where the private sector is ready both govt. and NGO should actively step back and in the interest to focus on margins yet to be engaged.

This is wonderful news and about time! Two partners and I have founded an organisation called Afriversity that believes the most effective solution to alleviating poverty is through socially responsible investment into businesses and education.

Africa has so much potential, it is about time that it is released!

Investing in Africa can be profitable venture, and with that committed governments would have to provide the enabling environment for this to happen. The enabling environment are numerous,among which are business friendly policies, and of course the will-the time of lives that African politicians or governments lead. If only African leaders would cut down their expenditures, live transparently in government, then even donors would be more than ready to help us.
My question is, are African governments ready to provide investment friendly environment including the way the ordinary citizens "perceive" to be living lavishly?
Africa is viable for investments if there are clarities or transparencies in African dealings

It has always been the right time to invest in Africa. Major European corporations, such as Unilever, Nestle, British American Tobacco, Standard Chartered Bank, etc have been invested in Africa for more than 100 years. They have never felt the need to pull out because the infrastructure was poor or the political situation was unstable. They make handsome profits out of Africa.

It is Western NGOs and media who constantly paint a bleak picture of Africa. This frightens people who have never been to Africa. Would be investors are put off. They think their money will be confiscated as soon as they step off the aeroplane.

The truth of the matter is that there are plenty of countries in Africa, especially southern Africa, that have never known a military coup or a civil war. I come from such a country. I urge would be investors to research countries in southern Africa.

Investment is the way forward for Africa. Aid is yesterday's story.

Aid has failed Africa miserably. Evidence from the past 50 years testifies to that.

I urge all the Westerners who give to charities to invest their money in an Africa focussed stock market fund instead. You will make money, you will create jobs for Africans, and you will contribute to African government tax revenues.

This is the right time to invest in Africa!! There are two major eras of history in Africa, the frist one is the era of direct colony and the second one is the most challenging era to Africa is this era which i want to express as indirect colony. For almost 100 years Africa needs Economic, political and technological supports from developed countries, these supports can not move Africa forward, due to the nature of the aid provided to the continent. Hence, our challenges are increasing from time to time, However, currently the strategy of China on Africa is a turning point for Western countries either to change their strategy on Africa or totally withdrawal from Africa which has potential capacity in different resources.

Most African markets are already occupaid by products from China, while the so called civilized western countries are debating on poletical and social issues with African governments. For China this is the best time to control African markets, which leads China to the FIRST MOVER ADVANTAGE.

May be after 5 to 10 years it is the most challenging time to other countries to penetrat the market of Africa which is going to be monopolized by China business people.

It is not only the right time to invest in Africa, but also a critical time to think deeply the potential of African markets

Asmera A

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Yes, it's the right time. Africa has the businesses, the brain power and the potential, so I dont see why not. We work and drive hard. Besided, seing to it that many African countries were heavily dependend on Aid was Western-man-made. So now, lift your burden and invest.

Africa we still need to do a bit more to justify to investors that their investments will not go down the drain. We need to be time conscious, the justice system has to be independent of the government in power and there has to be better accountability than we have now. Let our attitude exhibit that we are ready for overseas investors.

Bob Geldof, you are just my kind of man! I cherish you so much. You know what Africa's problem really is. Seeking for aid isn't really the answer.
I have said it uncountable times that we kill ourselves looking for aid[Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator] from the West. And you know the West may not desist from giving us such aid because our wallowing in poverty is their own floating in affluence.

Bob Geldof, Africa loves you!

Thanks.

It is worth anybody's while to invest in Africa. Its ever vibrant populace made up of very young men and women is its chief advantage.