DR Congo: The Kinshasa-Matadi Transport Corridor A Vital Link Receives Attention
An important announcement on a long-delayed rail project… In August 2023, an interesting news item appeared on my computer screen. It was headed: “The rehabilitation of the Kinshasa-Matadi railway: a crucial step for the economic development of the DRC.” The report reminded me of a meeting I’d had with the DRC Ministry of Transport in […]
Cameroon: The Kribi Deep Water Port Becomes a Reality
So much port development… From about 2010 until 2018, many of my business missions into sub-Saharan Africa were based on sea port developments. New ports were developing relatively suddenly in numerous markets, and I led group visits to Nacala in Mozambique, Lamu in Kenya, and San Pedro in Côte d’Ivoire to name a few. These […]
Ethiopia: Prospects for a Health Sector Transformation?
The mission The client was a multinational pharmaceuticals manufacturer, specialising in the production of drugs that treat rare diseases. Special emphasis was on the fields of oncology (cancer) and nephrology (kidney disease.) My mission was to visit the second most populous country in Ethiopia (about 105 million), to gauge the state of specialised healthcare there. […]
Botswana: Can Maun Evolve into Something More Than Just the ‘Welcome Mat’ to the Okavango Delta?
The precious Okavango Delta. A major ‘bucket list’ item… It’s a question clients have asked me many times: “You’ve travelled all over Africa. How come you’ve never been to the Okavango?” The truth is that it was on my ‘bucket list’ for many years. And then one day, in early 2019, my partner, Terry and […]
Zambia: Mpulungu Port As A Unique Inland Waterway Trade Route
One day I’ll get to visit Mpulungu… I have to start with the confession that I have never been to Mpulungu before. I had my first opportunity in the very early 1990-s, when I was with the Africa division of the South African Foreign Trade Organisation (SAFTO). I had heard from my Zambian contacts that […]
Libya: Stepping into a Pre-Revolution Scenario and Yet Another ‘Crisp Atmosphere’ Experience
My mission to Libya and a nervous arrival… It was December 2010 when I took an Egyptair flight from Johannesburg to Cairo and then another Egyptair flight onwards to Tripoli, the capital of Libya. I had been invited to speak at a conference, but my main reason for accepting the invitation was to meet with […]
Côte d’Ivoire/Ivory Coast: An Agricultural Success Story that is Blossoming Even More
Why no dried mangoes?… It was sometime around 2002 and I was walking with an Ivorian friend in the streets of Abidjan’s posh Cocody suburb. “So many mangoes just lying all over the road and just rotting away. Why don’t you guys do something with them?” “Do what with them?” “Beneficiate. Process them. Dried mangoes […]
Namgola: Development of Southern Angola and Northern Namibia into a Significant Economic Region
A new trade route and ‘Namgola’… I was sitting on the stoep of a home on the outskirts of Windhoek enjoying a few sundowners with a Namibian consulting engineer. Although informal, it was an important meeting. His company had recently completed a feasibility study on a south-north trade corridor that would extend from Walvis Bay, […]
SOUTH AFRICA Employer of Record: Don’t be caught out by SARS! Simplify Your South African Compliance with Africa Deployments
africa deployments south africa employer of record Are you a foreign company currently operating in South Africa with no registration locally? The regulatory landscape in South Africa is evolving, and compliance with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has become more critical than ever. The current Income Tax Act 58 of 1962 (“ITA”) is aiming to amend […]
Zimbabwe: The Critical Role of Non-Governmental Organisations in Providing Relief to Much of the Population
Elections have just been held in Zimbabwe with President Mnangagwa announced as head of state for a second term. Whatever the debate surrounding the elections and future prospects for the country, the NGO community operating there will continue to play a vital role in assisting communities and alleviating poverty. An unusual mission… Some years […]
