Monday 27 January 2014

East African Business Opportunities One May Invest In

By Judy Sullivan


Africa is generating a lot of business interests from all over the world. Not only does the region provide a ready market for manufactured goods from the Western world but it is also a big exporter of various goods and services. The strength of the continent as a business partner is mainly due to the numerous natural resources scattered within its boundaries. East Africa has become a big player in world business in recent times. As an investor, there are numerous East African business opportunities you may want to consider.

One of the biggest areas that you need to consider is in the mineral exploration sector. The African continent and East Africa in particular is endowed with numerous deposits of precious minerals most of which are large enough to warrant commercial exploration. The main limiting factor is of course the huge size of capital that is involved. The returns are usually very tremendous for the investor. Oil reserves have been found in some areas recently and this is likely to be a major area of business in the near future.

The main economic activity in the region is agriculture. The growth and export of cash crops such as coffee, tea and horticultural products continues to sustain many families in the region. Investors may participate in this area in many ways. For instance, one may sell fertiliser and farming machinery to the millions of farmers. For the implements that may be a bit costly for the individual farmers, credit facilities from financial institutions exist.

Apart from selling of agricultural inputs the other opportunity lies in the buying of produce from the farmers and selling it at a profit. Although many of them are organised into units responsible for the sale of their produce, there an equally huge number that operate as individuals and are willing to sell it to a third party. As a third party you will complete the export process and this will no doubt earn you some good money.

East Africa is known all over the world for its unique wild life varieties and beautiful scenery. The weather is also pleasant during the better part of the year. For decades, it has been a preferred destination for tourists from all over the world. The numbers sometimes run into hundreds of thousands per year. This sector provides a major investment opportunity in areas such as hotel and hospitality, travel agencies and tour guide companies.

There is a lot of enthusiasm for technology in Africa. Internet usage rates have soared over the last few years. Related to this increase is the increase in demand for computers, mobile phones and other electronics. If you put your money in technology, you most certainly will not be disappointed. All that you need to do is to research well to clearly identify your target clients.

Globalisation has resulted in extensive exchange of cultures among different people. Africans have adopted some foreign cultures and have in turn exported their own. One way in which this has been achieved is in the sale and purchase of clothing. As a business person you can sale clothes and shoes between Africa and the rest of the world.

There are several sectors of East African business that may generate good returns for the investors. A proper understanding of markets is needed if you want to succeed. Consult with other investors in this region so as to make well-informed decisions.




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