After following the very optimistic and insightful discussions during the World Economic Forum on Africa in Abuja last May – here is the next high-profile stop you as an African business owner and entrepreneur should not miss: The US-Africa Leaders Summit, which just kicked off in Washington DC yesterday on the 4th of August 2014.
Well, let me start with saying this: I absolutely LOVE the online live coverage of such high profile events allowing Africa business owners and many others to closely follow current debates and policy trends as they happen. It’s almost like sitting in the audience – although I have to confess: I wished I had been in Washington DC in person.
I strongly believe that running successful African businesses is more than just focusing on growing the balance sheet at the end of the financial year – well, ok, that always remains one of our top objectives. But there is much more to it: Doing business in Africa today is about playing an active part in Africa’s development- and gladly many known and unknown African entrepreneurs are recognizing it, embracing it, and living it.
And here is a simple point: Being aware and knowledgeable about ongoing development and policy trends and using them strategically for your business will probably both set you apart and increase your success rate.
Why?
Because doing so actually is a growing and powerful trend in African entrepreneurship already. So you need to make sure you join that wave of Africa’s ’success community’! And this is why I care to share some insights about the leadership summit here with you.
You may remember that I have summarized some key points of the World Economic Summit on Africa in Abuja – you better catch up reading my article about it here if you have not done so yet. There are two key issues that were raised.
But now back to our summit in DC, which is almost an ongoing effort along the same lines. Here are my notes after day 1 of the summit.
What does the US want from Africa? And what does Africa want from the US? These were some of the questions asked by participants at the US-Africa Leaders Summit and picked up by analysts who are busy reporting about the event – in fact, many were measuring expected outcomes long before the opening ceremony started.
To be honest, I am getting the impression that leaders on both continents are not entirely sure yet what exactly they do want of each other.
With the summit focusing on leadership it will naturally be a more complex affair, but there was a lot of talk about…..well….kind of everything: trade, tolerance, civic society, corruption, human rights, export, transparency, AGOA, peace building….
So what does that mean for US-Africa relations and Africa’s business community – including the African Diaspora in the US – in more concrete terms when considering doing business on the continent?
Hmmm, telecommunications tycoon Mo Ibrahim said businesses haven’t needed such a high-profile event to get going in Africa in the past, in fact, he openly voiced it this way:
“Everywhere in Africa there are Chinese business people, there are Brazilian business people. None of us went to Brazil, or to Asia or to China to tell them, look, come and invest in Africa. They found out themselves and they come and invest. That’s how basic business people behave,” He added: “Why do we need to come [to the US] and inform these misinformed American businesses? You know, you guys invented Google. Use it please.”
Well, I did find it wonderfully bold and funny, but I actually beg to differ.
The essence of it is right, but the significance and meaning of the summit is not to be underestimated. Yes, sure, the Obama administration had to face a lot of criticism for its failure to meaningfully engage on the ground with ‘Africa-rising’, so this is certainly a concerted effort to do some catching up. But – still keeping in mind that states too often work for their own and less for common or ethical interests – I am actually glad that America does not take the Chinese approach to doing business in Africa. Fact is, American businesses did not feel confident to simply set foot into Africa – and we can observe that rather than judge it. It seems like they simply need some kind of confidence building…..a continuous round of reassurance to make a move.
And it is in this very same context that there is a certain new narrative being formed and further strengthened in Africa-US relations, one that seeks to integrate issues around good governance, security, and human rights in Africa with business. Why not, if it trickles down, that can only be a good thing.
But you know what?
It’s certainly not imposed! It actually is very complementary to the new era that is growing in Africa and that is very much driven by Africans. This is about a new renaissance for Africa, a new future – built by African businesses, civic society organizations, communities, and political leaders alike – with the goal to develop positive practices that transform everyone in Africa, the rich, the influential, the educated as well as the rural poor and destitute township inhabitants, into winners.
Yesterday, I and many others who followed the panel discussions witnessed how African presidents and ministers were comfortable enough to mix together in the same hall with entrepreneurs and many civic society representatives, answering tough questions and welcoming compliments for progress made so far. Doing business in Africa will be entwined with that.
Here is a taste of honest, open, African public opinion:
As one young leader of the Mandela Washington Fellowship from Sierra Leone said to the panelists: “In today’s Africa governments better engage with civic society or may risk to soon become obsolete. You have better chances to win elections when you do engage.”
A lady added:”All you say and discuss here at this summit will only make sense if it reaches and benefits the rural communities in Africa.”
A Ghanaian participant took the opportunity to ask his president who sat on the panel why a certain oil revenue bill had been delayed for 2 years, and while it was a positive step to get new public reports from the government how oil revenues are being spent, there was still lacking transparency in how this oil revenue had been earned in the first place.
One participant from Kenya added: “Thanks for the Presidents of Tanzania and Ghana for meeting with us today, this is great progress. And it is probably no coincidence that it is the two of you who are sitting in the panel as your countries are considered democracies. What we had wished for however was that civil society was meeting in one room with big business. So we wonder why President Obama has separated the two.” (he got big cheering from the audience for this one).
A young Kenyan woman who was also a member of the Mandela Washington Fellowship turned to the many government representatives sitting in the audience and said:” We are sick and tired as civil society to run around with banners and posters, we are not here to threaten your position, we are here to help you to solve Africa’s problems. Work with us!’ (I loved her – but she said it with such a strong passionate voice that I am sure most politicians were smiling with relief that they did not have to talk to her).
A South African minister sitting on the panel said in regards to a new global initiative called the Open Government Partnerships: “We want to organize our own outreach program in Africa [and not just meet in the US], so we can hear from people on the continent what the issues are we need to address.”
A minister from The Gambia (to be honest maybe it was the president, I simply do not remember now) then stood up and announced: “how can we become members of this Open Government Partnerships?”
Well, The Gambia is regarded as a dictatorship….but: I believe deep in my heart that the wave that calls for transparency, peace, democracy, open markets, and shared resources across Africa is becoming bigger and the voices louder….and one day they will reach all corners of our beautiful continent.
Yes, what we witnessed was not a diplomatic photo session or imposed foreign values. What we witnessed were Africans debating with Africans and their global partners…because there is hunger for it, because this is the current Africa-driven-trend on the continent…..let it also take place on US soil for now, why not, I am convinced it is just a taste of what more is to come.
And if that is the wider context of ‘doing business in Africa’ then it is good news….and if America is actively fostering it at this very moment in time….then we should welcome it.
It’s good for business confidence, good for business, and good for Africa !
Please feel free to continue the discussion below and share your own views about the summit. We are looking forward to it!
And still. Let’s be defined what dosage in this case approaches most of all. There can be it cialis 20mg or something another. To me I think it isn’t necessary to choose for you necessary. Think. Perhaps suits you cialis 20 mg It is much better.
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Dr Harnet,
I always have enthusiastic passion reading your notes, report, comment … Please keep sharing and upholding.
Thanks for this brief note.
Romaric M