South Africa an Economic Primer

In summary South Africa is an economic powerhouse of the southern hemisphere. In comparison to the other economies on the continent South Africa is the undisputed leader. This is excellent info for anyone considering an international business destination!

Chart from South Africa's official state information site:

"South Africa is the economic powerhouse of Africa, with a gross domestic product (GDP) four times that of its southern African neighbours and comprising around 25% of the entire continent's GDP.

The country leads the continent in industrial output (40% of total output) and mineral production (45%) and generates most of Africa's electricity (over 50%).

Its major strengths include its physical and economic infrastructure, natural mineral and metal resources, a growing manufacturing sector, and strong growth potential in the tourism, higher value-added manufacturing and service industries.

South African banking regulations rank with the best in the world. The sector has long been rated among the top 10 globally. There are 55 locally controlled banks, 12 foreign-controlled banks and five mutual banks. Some of the world's leading institutions have announced their intention to enter the local banking sector through mergers and acquisitions."

Tags: South Africa, south africa, economy, economics, southern hemisphere, Africa

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allAfrica.com: Africa: Zimbabwe's Mugabe Splitting the EU And Uniting Africa (Page 1 of 1)

allAfrica.com: Africa: Zimbabwe's Mugabe Splitting the EU And Uniting Africa (Page 1 of 1): "All eyes are, however, on the opposition in Zimbabwe. And here lies another tragedy. By identifying with the former colonial masters in the otherwise noble 'project Mugabe out', Zim's opposition fails to sufficiently excite the discerning 'Afrikanists' who have learned to despise neo-colonialism. The idea of African opposition politicians taking their cases to western capitals, receiving red carpet welcomes, taking care not to sound incorrect, in the anticipated exchange for future patronage is steadily going out of fashion. It is this, that is perhaps making Africa rather stand with her worst: men like Mugabe who have no respect for human rights and who think they are more important than the very nations they claim to lead. While Mugabe has split the EU, he has united Africa's spirit for true economic independence."

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Economy of Tanzania - Wikipedia

Economy of Tanzania - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Beginning in 1986, the Government of Tanzania embarked on an adjustment program to dismantle socialist economic controls and encourage more active participation of the private sector in the economy. The program included a comprehensive package of policies which reduced the budget deficit and improved monetary control, substantially depreciated the overvalued exchange rate, liberalized the trade regime, removed most price controls, eased restrictions on the marketing of food crops, freed interest rates, and initiated a restructuring of the financial sector. Current GDP per capita of Tanzania grew 59% in the Nineties."

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Economy of Liberia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Economy of Liberia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Timber and rubber are Liberia's main export items since the end of the war. Liberia earns more than $100 million and more than $70 million annually from timber and rubber exports, respectively. Alluvial diamond and gold mining activities also account for some economic activity. Being the second-largest maritime licenser in the world with more than 1,700 vessels registered under its flag, including 35% of the world's tanker fleet, Liberia earned more than $18 million from its maritime program in 2000. The Liberian Government has declared in recent months that it has discovered sizable amounts of crude oil along its Atlantic coast.

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allAfrica.com: Kenya: Kenyans Will Wait Until '09 to Get Faster Internet (Page 1 of 1)

allAfrica.com: Kenya: Kenyans Will Wait Until '09 to Get Faster Internet (Page 1 of 1): "Kenyans will have to wait until mid 2009 to access more affordable and faster Internet connection, it has emerged. Alcatel-Lucent, the French company that was picked to build the country's first connection to the global network of high speed Internet, said it needs at least 16 months to do the job, which pushes the date for completion of the government-backed the East Africa Marine cable system (TEAMs) from the end of April next year to mid 2009."

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allAfrica.com: Namibia: New Border Post Opened in South-East (Page 1 of 1)

allAfrica.com: Namibia: New Border Post Opened in South-East (Page 1 of 1): "A New border post in south-eastern Namibia, which will facilitate cross-border tourism between South Africa, Botswana and Namibia, was officially opened on Friday. The Mata-Mata border post, which was opened by the presidents of the three countries, will serve as tourist entry point from the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, which straddles the border between South Africa and Botswana. The Kgalagadi Park, which was opened seven years ago, incorporates the Gemsbok National Park in Botswana and the Kalahari National Park in South Africa."

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Sound Off: Rwanda Vision 2020-What Lies Ahead

Rwanda is a country that has been on my mind a great deal, these days.... As a matter of fact, my wife and I are planning a trip to Kenya this year and while there, we hope to make it into Kigali (Rwanda's capital). There are just so many fascinating things about Rwanda, these are a few of the things that intrigue me:

• They will soon be joining the East African Community, which is the regional intergovernmental orginazation currently comprised of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

• They have taken a proactive approach to investment promotion-coffee (often through fair trade ventures) and IT have been two of their major focal points.

• They have gotten rid of capital punishment.

• Rwanda's tourism sector is beginning to rebound nicely.
  

• The country's "turnaround" from massive civil strife and turmoil to beacon of hope.

What intrigues me even more than any of points above is their president Paul Kagame. I have heard and read how his greatest mentors and role models are business people. Even how he reminds some more of a very pragmatic business person than a national president. But then again, maybe these two roles share more similiarities than meets the eye. Here's an excerpt from a post on The Next Billion, which to me, reinforces that very thought:

"...Certainly job creation and economic growth is central to raising livelihoods. This given, the mind is once again on the hypothetical; if the goal is job creation, 'What’s the first step?'

In grappling with this question, in 1997 the Rwandan government first set out to detail where they wanted go, then worked backwards to decide how to get there. In consultation with the development community, NGOs, and the private sector, the result of their efforts is Vision 2020. The document rests its development strategy on six 'pillars'; in short, the Nation, the State, the People, Infrastructure, the Private sector, and Agriculture.

(For another take on Vision 2020, check out Worldchanging, where editor Alex Steffen weighs in on the program as a test case for leapfrogging.)

What impresses me most about the document is not its MDG-style ambition, but its level of self-awareness. There is an honest discussion of the country's turbulent political, economic, and colonial history. The country not only knows where it wants to go, but even more importantly, it knows where it is, and how it got there; and as such its first steps, and each one there after, should be firmly grounded..."

That was an excellent synopsis by Courtland Walker and for the most part it echoed my thoughts on Vision 2020. This plan, to me, resembles a business plan and if Rwanda is able to continue carrying out the plan over 13 more years, then Rwanda could become a regional leader in several areas.

The main question in my mind, however, is whether or not it will be carried out when Rwanda's next president comes into office. If this were a Western nation or even a huge multi-national corporation business would most likely just continue as usual. But in a developing nation, or in a developing nation in the Great Lakes region of East Africa can we assume the same? I really want to know your thoughts, is this a valid question or am I being a little paranoid? Please sound off below and let us know.


Source:
Rwanda Journal: Vision 2020 | NextBillion.net - Development Through Enterprise:

Tags: Rwanda, Paul Kagame, Vision 2020, NGO, East Africa, East Africa Community, African coffee, fair trade, Kigali, africa business plan

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