Special

Brett Parker, Managing Director – SAP Africa, writes on how Africans are coming up with solutions to unique problems they face, leading to the emergence of new technologies. By now, I am convinced that you have heard of M-Pesa, the popular and often-cited mobile banking system that has become Africa’s innovation calling card. But do you know about the Ushahidi …

“Agenda 2030: Sustainable Development Goals” was the theme of this year’s Africa Day in the western German city of Dortmund.  The 3-day congress, which marked the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (now African Union) in 1963 and was organised by the non-governmental organization AfricanTide Union, beamed the focus on Agenda 2030 and its relevance to tackling the knotty …

Much more wealth is leaving Africa, which is generally regarded as the world’s most impoverished continent, than is entering it, according to a new research into total financial flows into and out of the continent.  Nick Dearden, the director of UK campaigning organisation Global Justice Now, argues that it’s time to change the way the West talks and thinks about …

German Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Brigitte Zypries, visited South Africa on 3 – 7 May 2017. A high-level business delegation accompanied her. The visit centred around the presentation of Germany’s new plan for engagement with Africa at the World Economic Forum on Africa 2017. The Forum, which took place in Cape Town, was attended by more than a …

The dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is here. Sthe Shabangu, Lead: Public Relations, Public Affairs and Corporate Citizenship, Samsung Africa Office asks whether we are doing enough to ensure Africa is ready. JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 16 May 2017, -/African Media Agency (AMA)/- Africa is standing before a small window of opportunity to grow future-ready leaders equipped to take on …

SAP, the global company that develops enterprise software for companies large and small, has launched a management system to support and grow East Africa’s smallholder farming sector. SAP Rural Sourcing Management is a new solution that was created to support the connection of smallholder farmers in developing countries with global produce buyers, providing transparency, accountability and access to financial services. SAP …

Germany’s minister of economic co-operation and development, Dr Gerd Müller, is presently promoting a plan to redesign the country’s relationship with Africa. Launched in Berlin early this year, the plan proposes new planks in German-African ties with the aim of promoting sustainable political stability and economic growth in Africa. ‘Marshall Plan with Africa’, in a nutshell, is a way to …

Political and business leaders from Germany and Africa converge on Hamburg on 25-26 April for the 11th German-African Energy Forum. The annual event offers a platform for players in the energy sector for interaction and networking. Ministers from eleven African countries and two German State Secretaries will attend the conference. The African ministers, in charge of energy and/or industries, are …

Moscow hosted the third edition of “Morocco Festival” , an event that showcased and introduced Moroccan products to Russian customers, in Moscow on 14-23 April. Organised by the Moroccan Centre for Exports Promotion – “Maroc Export”-, the fair highlighted Made-in-Morocco products such as textile, leather, cosmetics, footwear and decoration articles to target a new strategic market. Through its rich culture, Morocco …

“I’m used to not being German enough, living in this country, but not being African enough to represent Africa in Germany was a new one to me,” writes Jennifer Odusola, an Afro-German, on her experience of being considered not qualified to represent her father’s continent of origin. Thoughtless statements or comments that aren’t meant to ‘offend’ often have ways of …

A particular excerpt of the DW documentary "Afro.Germany" went viral: the touching testimony of one of the oldest Afro-Germans born in Berlin. Here's what can be learned from social media users' hundreds of reactions.

Cameroonian economist and banking executive Vera Songwe has been appointed the new Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission on Africa (ECA). Dr Songwe beat more than 70 candidates to clinch the post which was held by Dr Carlos Lopes of Guinea Bissau who stepped down from the organisation in September last year. ECA is one of the United Nation’s five …

East Africa’s economy has continued to grow despite the adverse effects of drought being felt across the region according to ICAEW’s (the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) latest report. In Economic Insight: Africa Q1 2017 launched on 13 April, the accountancy and finance body points out that authorities from various East African nations have attempted to mitigate …

This year’s Africa Day Hamburg will take place on 24-28 May. The event, which celebrates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (now African Union) 54 years ago, takes place annually in the merchant city. The Day, will among other events, feature an investment forum which brings together German businessmen and women who are interested in doing business in …

It’s an inspiring story of how to turn adversity to advantage. After working on farms in southern Italy for pitiful salaries, in 2012 some migrants from West Africa decided to start their own agricultural co-operative near Rome. The business, which produces organic yoghurts and vegetables and delivers them by bike, is entirely environmentally friendly. Chloé Lauvergnier reports. The co-operative is called …

Overcoming barriers is part of every immigrant’s struggle. African women living in Germany have been sharing their experiences in a meeting intended to boost morale and better equip them to deal with life here. Abu-Bakarr Jalloh of Deutsche Welle (DW) reports. A group of women in colourful African dresses danced and sang songs familiar to everyone present. They were neither …

Mauritians are the wealthiest individuals in Africa with an average wealth of US$25,700 per person, whilst people living in Zimbabwe are the poorest with US$200 per person. Interestingly, This was revealed in the just-published ‘AfrAsia Bank Africa Wealth Report 2017‘. Note: “wealth per capita” refers to the average wealth of a person living in each country. It excludes government held …

Speaker after speaker talked about the immense potential for greater German-African trade at the first Germany-Africa Business Forum (GABF) in Berlin recently. The event, which brought together entrepreneurs, CEOs, key opinion leaders and politicians, featured presentations on the challenges and prospects for doing business in Africa. In his keynote speech, former President Thomas Boni Boyi of the Republic of Benin …

Netherlands-based journalist and publisher Iwa Adetunji* writes on how businessmen and women are silently driving development in Africa. As gloomy as it may seem here and there, Africa is indeed rising. Africa is rising not because its governments have suddenly woken up from their slumber. It is rising not because the benefits accruing from its vast natural resources are now …

The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and his Senegalese counterpart President Macky Sall, were at the Africa CEO Forum 2017 in Geneva where they discussed how Africa’s sub-regions can work more closely together in a world where demands for economic nationalism and protectionism are on the rise. Switzerland’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, Johann Schneider-Ammann, gave …