Sunday, January 26, 2014

East African Business Opportunities One May Invest In

2:42 AM By

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 selling of agricultural inputs the other opportunity lies in the buying of produce from the farmers and selling it at a profit. Although many of them are organised into units responsible for the sale of their produce, there an equally huge number that operate as individuals and are willing to sell it to a third party. As a third party you will complete the export process and this will no doubt earn you some good money.

The tourism industry has blossomed for decades. Visitors are attracted to the region because of the varied and unique wildlife and the beautiful scenery. During some years, the number of annual guests approaches hundreds of thousands translating in huge earnings for the industry players. As a potential investor in this area, some opportunities that you need to consider include setting up travel agencies, hotel and hospitality facilities and tour guide companies.

There is a lot of enthusiasm for technology in Africa. Internet usage rates have soared over the last few years. Related to this increase is the increase in demand for computers, mobile phones and other electronics. If you put your money in technology, you most certainly will not be disappointed. All that you need to do is to research well to clearly identify your target clients.

Globalisation has resulted in extensive exchange of cultures among different people. Africans have adopted some foreign cultures and have in turn exported their own. One way in which this has been achieved is in the sale and purchase of clothing. As a business person you can sale clothes and shoes between Africa and the rest of the world.

There are numerous opportunities in East African business. You only need to understand the market and the forces that drive demand and supply. Conducting some form of research before investing will be a wise thing to do.





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