TO BE TENACIOUS.

TO BE TENACIOUS.

No one succeeds in Africa by following a straight line. The field of frustrations is extensive, and I have hardly ever known anyone who succeeded in Africa without encountering endless obstacles. Mostly, these are the daily obstacles of life in a system that only halfway works. I spoke with a young Nigerian who was back […]

BUILDING WHAT WE NEED.

BUILDING WHAT WE NEED.

In the 1990s, Chrysler forged the concept of the “extended enterprise”: a company in which different management poles are interdependent, but with multiple and distinct structures. The interaction between an electricity supplier and a manufacturer would be a typical example of this kind of enterprise, at least in the United States or Europe. In Africa, […]

GETTING YOUR HANDS DIRTY

GETTING YOUR HANDS DIRTY

For businesspeople in developed markets, frontier markets are both exciting and daunting. That’s why American, European, Japanese, and even Korean companies tend to keep their distance. Their world and social life are often compartmentalized. It’s comfortable, but from a business perspective, adopting this behavior in Africa is a death sentence. You have to get your […]

AFRICA LACKS EVERYTHING. WHAT A CHANCE!

AFRICA LACKS EVERYTHING. WHAT A CHANCE!

To lack something doesn’t mean one cannot afford it. The consumer goods sector is growing rapidly in Africa. From 2000 to 2010, natural resources contributed to one-third of African growth. According to McKinsey & Company’s report, “The rise of the African consumer,” sectors operating at least partially in B2C represented 45% of this growth in […]

THE RIGHT VISION: A FRAGMENTED WHOLE.

THE RIGHT VISION: A FRAGMENTED WHOLE.

Understanding the distinctions between the various regions of Africa is necessary to grasp what success means in this part of the world. Many business leaders aware of these distinctions integrate a comprehensive vision of Africa. This holds true for the most obvious reason: economies of scale. Tom Gibian discovered this in Asia before coming to […]

THINK REGION.

THINK REGION.

A good way to segment the African market is by looking at regional trade zones. There are five main regional blocs in Africa, which correspond to the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) of the African Economic Community (AEC), an organization seeking to promote economic development among African states. These five RECs are: Some companies have succeeded […]

THE AWAKENING OF A CONTINENT.

THE AWAKENING OF A CONTINENT.

In 2000, the editors of the magazine saw Africa as a continent trapped in a spiral of violence and despair. The editorial read, “Mozambique and Madagascar have been ravaged by floods, famine is resurfacing in Ethiopia, Zimbabwe has succumbed to government-backed violence, poverty and epidemics are rampant. And above all, war continues to rage across […]

THE GOVERNANCE REVOLUTION IN AFRICA.

THE GOVERNANCE REVOLUTION IN AFRICA.

The end of the Cold War has had a positive impact that is hardly noticeable from a Western capital. Cold War politics, much like oil or misdirected humanitarian aid, was an external force to which African governments could submit without benefiting their citizens in any way. This is the recollection of Sam Jonah, former CEO […]

TYPOLOGY OF CUSTOMS DUTY EXEMPTIONS.

TYPOLOGY OF CUSTOMS DUTY EXEMPTIONS.

One of the characteristics of customs duty is its general scope. It applies to all individuals regardless of their qualities. However, this principle is not absolute. Exceptions, in terms of partial or total exemptions from duties and taxes, are granted based on legal or regulatory texts (Finance Law, Customs Code, Investment Code, International Convention, etc.). […]

THE INCOTERMS : Trade

THE INCOTERMS : Trade

Customs evaluation of goods cannot be done without taking into account the provisions of the sales contract, hence the importance for customs and the declarant to master the Incoterms (International Commercial Terms). SECTION 1: GENERALITIES Incoterms come in various types. Only a good understanding of the rules will optimize the customs value. Paragraph 1: Definition […]

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