Africa Rising ~ Prospects For Prosperity by 2050

Very interesting to read Business Week's Featured Special Report by Jack Ewing on South African Companies Unlock Sub-Saharan Africa. Several compelling case examples, including...

"All told, South Africans have plowed more than $8.5 billion into the Sub-Saharan region, the U.N. estimates, making the country the biggest investor there. Ever since South African Breweries pioneered the African beer market—and then went on to become the global titan known as SABMiller—South African companies have led the way on risky turf. Johannesburg cellular provider MTN was one of a handful of companies to defy conventional wisdom and prove that Africa could be a huge market for mobile phones. South African retailers such as Massmart, Shoprite, and packaged-food maker Tiger Brands are bringing Western-style shopping to Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, and other far-flung locales. And Standard Bank has opened branches in 16 African countries that in many cases lacked even basic financial services. "South African companies are more open than ever to the opportunities in Africa,"

The BW article links to UT Austin Professor Vijay Mahajan's new book Africa Rising: How 900 Million Customers Offer More Than You ThinkWhere he...

"...introduces readers to Africa as a place of remarkable optimism and ingenuity with entrepreneurs and businesses working to create a better future for the continent. Crossing thousands of miles across many countries, Mahajan shares the lessons that Africa’s businesses have learned about succeeding on the continent…shows how global companies are succeeding despite Africa’s unique political, economic and resource challenges…introduces local entrepreneurs and foreign investors who are building a remarkable spectrum of profitable and sustainable business opportunities even in the most challenging locations…reveals how India and China are staking out huge positions throughout Africa…and shows the power of the diaspora in driving investment and development."

See this video clip of Professor Mahajan making his case...