Emmanuel Lahai is a 21 year old entrepreneur from Sierra Leone. After a year of studying civil engineering in Sierra Leone, Lahai won a scholarship to continue his degree in China where he founded Send Me, a business to help Sierra Leoneans buy Chinese-made products online. Now, Send Me is shifting its focus towards facilitating e-commerce within Africa, with the long term goal of connecting small businesses throughout the continent with consumers from all over the world.

Agricultural companies that research native crops in Africa can position themselves for success both in Africa and globally. By finding more efficient ways of storing and processing native crops, companies can sell these indigenous crops to the growing urban population on the continent while supporting local farmers. By researching the health benefits of native crops, agribusinesses might discover new superfoods to be marketed globally.

The international business community can invest in small-holder farmers to develop agriculture on the continent, increase profits for both sides, and move Africa towards food sovereignty and economic prosperity.

Covid has demonstrated the urgency for Africa to establish food sovereignty. Africa has the agricultural potential to produce enough rice to feed itself and to export abraod. Agribusinesses that collaborate with African farmers to increase yields can cater to the growing demand for foodstuff on the continent and contribute to Africa’s food security while enjoying a market characterized by relatively low competition and steadily growing demand.

Now more than ever, companies need accurate and up to date market information that can guide them in adapting their strategy to a post-Covid world. To make it easier for you to get the intelligence you need to enter or expand in the African market, we have put together this short list of highlights from the 2020 Investment Climate Statement on Botswana.

Simon, like many other foreign visitors to Africa, first came to the continent to work in humanitarian aid. A decade later, he is still in Kenya growing Kwangu Kwako, a social enterprise in Kenya that builds affordable houses to replace the metal shacks prevalent in lower income urban areas.

Some worry that Covid-19 will affect the trajectory of Africa’s middle class for years to come. But the middle class also includes a large share of young people age 15-24 who drive consumer trends in food, entertainment, and connectivity. In the aftermath of Covid-19, this generation will exercise an even greater influence on Africa’s consumer demand trends.

Africa’s consumer market is growing. Over the past twenty years, household spending in Sub-Saharan Africa has grown 150% faster than the population. The lack of readily available, reliable, and comprehensive data sets should not deter companies looking to grow in Africa from making informed strategic decisions based on realistic projections.

Much of Africa has warm weather, rich soil, and abundant sunshine necessary to grow high-quality cannabis in open fields. Recent legislative changes in several countries authorizing the cultivation of medical cannabis are placing Africa in a prime position to benefit from the booming legal cannabis market.