The Main East African Business Opportunities

By Judy Sullivan


Africa is generating a lot of business interests from all over the world. Not only does the region provide a ready market for manufactured goods from the Western world but it is also a big exporter of various goods and services. The strength of the continent as a business partner is mainly due to the numerous natural resources scattered within its boundaries. East Africa has become a big player in world business in recent times. As an investor, there are numerous East African business opportunities you may want to consider.

A major area that you may want to consider for investment is the exploration of natural resources. There are numerous deposits of precious metals in the region most of which are economically viable. Entering this sector does require that you secure a sizeable amount of capital because of the huge expenses involved but what is certain is that you will earn yourself tremendous returns. The discovery of oil reserves in some areas has already attracted a lot of attention.

The main economic activity in the region is agriculture. The growth and export of cash crops such as coffee, tea and horticultural products continues to sustain many families in the region. Investors may participate in this area in many ways. For instance, one may sell fertiliser and farming machinery to the millions of farmers. For the implements that may be a bit costly for the individual farmers, credit facilities from financial institutions exist.

Apart from the selling of inputs, the other area that may provide an opportunity of investment is the purchase of agricultural produce. You can act as a link between the farmers and their markets. Many of them want to cash in as soon as possible without going through the hustle of looking for markets. After buying the produce at an affordable price, you can look for the market and make a profit.

East Africa is known all over the world for its unique wild life varieties and beautiful scenery. The weather is also pleasant during the better part of the year. For decades, it has been a preferred destination for tourists from all over the world. The numbers sometimes run into hundreds of thousands per year. This sector provides a major investment opportunity in areas such as hotel and hospitality, travel agencies and tour guide companies.

The technological sector is a big employer in Africa. There has been an increase in the usage rates for internet across many countries of the continent. This coupled with massive growth of mobile telephony have greatly increased the demand for many gadgets. Computers and mobile phones are some of the fast selling items.

Clothes are one of the defining components of a given culture. Although Africans have been known to be quite conservative as regards their culture as evidenced by their dressing styles, there has a huge change in this in recent times. Fashion has crossed boundaries and has been readily embraced. The sale of clothes and shoes from other parts of the world is now a very profitable business.

There are several sectors of East African business that may generate good returns for the investors. A proper understanding of markets is needed if you want to succeed. Consult with other investors in this region so as to make well-informed decisions.




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