Our thoughts, hearts, feelings, and spirits go out to the people of Morocco, who are living, sharing, and suffering the effects of devastating earthquakes that have caused a tragic loss of life, injuries, and damages in the rural areas of the Middle-South Atlas Mountains and the old city of Marrakesh.
Said El Mansour Cherkaoui in the Southern Atlas of Morocco Helping the Amazigh Tribes and Children in their traditional schooling in 1992
We have expressed and continue to offer our full support to the Kingdom of Morocco in the wake of this natural catastrophe and environmental disaster.
We also translate our sincere gratitude and admiration to all responders, government personnel and agencies, individual volunteers, emergency squads from Morocco and abroad.
God Bless all the victims, their families, parents, relatives and acquaintances.
Only 6 Weeks left for The Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bringing together central bankers, ministers of finance and development, parliamentarians, private sector executives, representatives from civil society organizations, and academics to discuss many topics.
This year’s events will take place in Marrakech, Morocco, from October 9-15, 2023.
#MoroccoAM2023, @Ministère de l’économie et des Finances, IFC – International Finance Corporation
Only 6 Weeks left for The Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bringing together central bankers, ministers of finance and development, parliamentarians, private sector executives, representatives from civil society organizations, and academics to discuss many topics.
This year’s events will take place in Marrakech, Morocco, from October 9-15, 2023.
#MoroccoAM2023, @Ministère de l’économie et des Finances, IFC – International Finance Corporation
Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from 189 delegations, as well as representatives of the private sector and NGOs will attend the @the_imf and @worldbank#AM2023
32 jours avant les Assemblées Annuelles de #Marrakech.
Les ministres des Finances et les gouverneurs des banques centrales de 189 délégations, ainsi que des représentants du secteur privé et des ONG participeront au #AM2023
Definition and Instruments of Actions and Interventions for The “InterAfrican Social Community Bank of Reconstruction”‘s goals can be summarized and include:
A multiregional Superintendence of stimulating and increasing the outputs and the productivity of food staples along with the expansion of educational programs that favor and increase the social return and the individual empowerment of communities and self-reliance of tribes in African countries. No bank headquarters should be located anywhere, this institution needs to be located in the regions and near the communities that need its services, support, and orientation as well as investment in education.
The other areas and domains of intervention can be the following:
– Supporting fragile communities, regions, and ethnic minorities as well as their cultures and means of living
– Strengthening local not export agriculture and guaranteeing through direct Research and Development to increase the transformation of saline waters and agricultural productivity without Chemical to build and assure FOOD SOVEREIGNTY of communities, regions, and ethnic tribes
– To protect and promote the preservation of the most distinguished aspects and characteristics identities of their culture and means of living
– Implementing Study and Educational Programs to increase literacy and to create jobs in accordance with this educational policy
– Workforce Program Development adapted to the local economic socio-cultural and eco-financial conditions as well as the level of modernization conditions, see our training programs on Entrepreneurship at https://glocentra.com and / en Français: https://fr.glocentra.com
– Stimulating trade and exchange of ideas and opportunities with other regions of the country to reduce the formation of enclaves and isolation
The “InterAfrican Social Community Bank of Reconstruction” subscription to its capital should be from the State and transformed and vested in community ownership and the employee’s ownership to maintain the financial independence and the autonomy of the strategic management of this Superintendence.
The “InterAfrican Social Community Bank of Reconstruction” mobilizes resources from within and outside of its spheres of action and operations.
Morocco’s Earthquake
The actual earthquake that devastated regions and local communities enclaved in their territories like in their own production. These enclaves are a distinct territorial, Amazigh cultural, and with social groups within a cohesive community of local and ancestral traditional heritages.
We are in the presence of destructured productive and interacting units with self-reliance and self-distribution of functions and roles within sectors and areas of pastoral and agricultural operations. The only other options is the rural exodus to the surrounding cities and to foreign countries. The large scale of the damages inflicted on these communities is double sword reality that can stimulate the exodus at the same time with the large important reconstruction can be a locomotive to the transformative and modernizing trend that can take place in these regions.
Within these imperatives, the “InterAfrican Social Community Bank of Reconstruction” can be established with a regional network that focused and leveraged the reconstruction not just of habitations but of the entire physical and logistical infrastructure necessary to disenclave remote villages as suffering regions not just from the aftermath of the recent cataclysmic Earthquake in the Haouz, Marrakech Region but more importantly to set new regional policy of empowerment and redefinition of the regions.
A new frame of authentic national and local growth of the Moroccan potential and capacities to be self-reliant and self-sustained economic and productive regional segments of regional and national policy of locally based growth conditions and nationally driven development realizations.
This process of redefinition of regional priorities can lead to integration for the local communities with cohesive and self-reliance policy based on the distribution of building capacities that can be the vectors for the reconstruction strategy and the stimulation of local and regional creation of local added-value agricultural, artisanal and semi-industrial productions based on community-oriented work and productivity.
The United States and Africa have a strong relationship that includes trade, investment, and development. The U.S. government has helped close more than 800 trade and investment deals in 47 African countries since 2021, with an estimated value of over $18 billion. The U.S. private sector has also closed investment deals in Africa valued at $8.6 billion.
The U.S. and Africa also have common development objectives, including:
Building institutions
Strengthening the rule of law
Building the capacity of African countries to stand on their own
Supporting democracy
Providing technical assistance to boost African countries’ resilience against climate change
The U.S. government also incentivizes good governance to meet long term security and development goals. The U.S. has provided more than $4 billion in humanitarian assistance this fiscal year to respond to the needs of refugees, internally displaced persons, and people affected by conflict and crisis on the African continent.
Based on the generic assumption of the major media outlets, Africa still has vast, undeveloped natural resources. Private sector expertise in the United States can facilitate the responsible development of those resources, helping bring more Africans out of poverty to share in the economic values of those resources.
The United States and Africa have a strong relationship, particularly in the areas of health, security, and trade. The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has increased trade between the two countries, creating thousands of jobs in both regions. The U.S. government trade program allows countries in sub-Saharan Africa to export products to the United States tariff-free.
The United States has also provided over 200 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to Africa. Closing critical gaps in African countries’ pandemic preparedness and response capacities is essential for U.S. and global health security.
The United States and South Africa have built a solid bilateral relationship since South Africa’s transition to democracy in 1994. The two countries collaborate in areas such as health, education, environment, and digital economy.
The United States welcomes the African Continental Free Trade Area because it wants to see Africa’s economic power in the world grow.
The United States of Africa is a hypothetical concept that envisions a federation of all or some of the 54 sovereign states and two disputed states on the continent of Africa. The concept originated from Marcus Garvey’s 1924 poem “Hail, United States of Africa”.
The idea of a united Africa has been a constant theme since the earliest days of pan-Africanism. Pan-Africanism is a cultural, political, and economic ideal and movement that aims to mobilize Africans against racial discrimination, foreign domination, and economic exploitation.
In the late 1990s, Muammar Gaddafi of Libya began propagating his vision of a unified Africa. His ideas inspired leaders across the continent, eventually forming the African Union.
North Africa: Morocco
The US’s interests in North Africa are largely due to the region’s strategic location. North Africa is located on the southern coast of the Mediterranean.
North Africa is a prosperous region that generates one-third of Africa’s GDP. North Africa is one of the wealthiest regions of Africa.
The region is prosperous due to its proximity to European markets and its natural resources. Libya often has the highest GDP per capita of the continent because it produces large amounts of petroleum.
The wealthiest countries in Africa are South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, and Kenya.
The region is located at the intersection of the Arab world and Africa. North Africa is a major part of the Muslim world. The predominant ethnic groups are Arabs and Moors. Islam is the biggest religion in North Africa.
The political situation in North Africa is important to the United States for a number of reasons, including:
Strategic importance: North Africa is located at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Military and security concerns: The United States and Europe have military and security concerns in the region.
Economic interests: The United States and Europe have economic interests in the region.
Global interests: Future trends in the region will affect global U.S. interests.
Shared values: The United States and Italy support North African countries in developing solutions to internal and regional turmoil.
The Maghreb states of North Africa have been marginal to U.S. strategy for decades. However, changes in the region since early 2011 have made it increasingly central to a wide range of U.S. interests.
The United States and Europe have political and economic interests in the region. The increasing involvement of Russia and China in the region has also increased the importance of the North African region to Western capitals.
Interests in North Africa, including:
Security Stability and progress in North Africa strengthen the US’s global security interests.
TradeThe US is looking to revitalize its economic engagement with Africa.
Humanitarian assistanceThe US has provided $2 billion in humanitarian assistance to African nations.
EducationThe US private sector plays a role in advancing US relations and goals in the region.
The US cannot force political decisions or set local agendas in North Africa. However, it can support countries during historic changes. The US’s interests in North Africa include Security, Counterterrorism, and Diplomacy.
U.S. – Morocco Business, Trade and Diplomacy Relationships
Aug 22, 2023 — How to Improve Performances and Create New Impetus within Entrepreneurial Environment? Said El Mansour Cherkaoui Post to AFRICANA CLUB …
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Dec 19, 2019 — Dr. Said Cherkaoui is an exceptional figure in international business development. His broad range of expertise covers all ranges of economic …
Dr. Said Cherkaoui is an exceptional figure in international business development. His broad range of expertise covers all ranges of economic development, with …
Dec 19, 2019 — Cherkaoui work focused on closing the divide between entrepreneurs, businesses, educational and professional institutions eager to develop …
Growth and Change in Africa … Africa in the World Economy New Africa New International Affairs Said El Mansour Cherkaoui ☆ Africa ☆ Afrique Said El Mansour …
Sep 27, 2022 — All this involvement and interests in China and as Senior Consultant with the Center for International Trade Development at Oakland and Berkeley …
Said El Mansour Cherkaoui Selected by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Representing 25 U.S. Companies at Tradeshows in Morocco
Said El Mansour Cherkaoui Invited by China Government
Moves, contributions and direct participations to facilitate to the signing of the U.S. – Morocco Free Trade Agreement, Said El Mansour Cherkaoui Represented at Casablanca American Cafe Tradeshows organized in Morocco by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Morocco. Dr. Cherkaoui represented 25 U.S. Food and Equipment Companies in this international event attended by companies from all over the United States of America.
Language of International Trade, Expression of Global Business and Culture of Investment in Humanity: Said El Mansour Cherkaoui Stories and Narratives around the World
De Doukkala, Mazagan, El Jadida, Morocco en passant par la France et l’Europe et les Etats Unis de l’Amérique et tout cela juste pour former et conseiller des Exécutives et des Hauts Responsables de la Californie et de la Chine.
From Doukkala, Mazagan and El Jadida, Morocco to France, Europe and the USA and all that for just to provide international training and advices to Executives and High Ranking Officials in California and China.
Shared with Your friends and Said El Mansour’s friends
Glimpse at my US based Contributions in California International Trade and International Business Development with the CITD
How I trusted and worked more than hard to correct an image of distortion caused by international conflictual interests and how I tried without becoming tired to do the best of the best to build bridges and exchanges between cultures and personalities for the sake to create understanding, mutual benefits, while I forget even my own comfort and rewards at every level of material significance and I became driven by hopes of better happening and prayers that my own children will not be witnesses or victims to the same I have endured.
Beside this, I consider myself one among the first Founders of the Center of International Trade Development when these Centers were just 4 scattered between San Diego and Berkeley and passing by Merced. I started working at the CITD and the EBSBDC (East Bay Small Business Development Center, the first in California) in 1993-94, I became responsible for the transfer of the CITD from Berkeley to Oakland and when Ms. Selma Taylor left in 1996 the CITD and the EBSBD, I followed her exit, new team took over that frankly, they did not know what it takes to handle or organize neither international venture or operation or to develop a small business enterprise. The new Director was an accountant and Priest, so he knew how to fill up forms and preach and was an old friend of the top brass of the local elite. More to come on opportune time and appropriate situation.
A new Director of the CITD later on fut appointed and I was his mentor when he started to work within the San Francisco World Trade Center. He needed help from me to organize the international of foreign delegations and create training programs the CITD and accredited training seminars for foreign executives. In 2001, I started again working with the now called EBCITD [East Bay Center for International Trade Development].
During this time, I initiated and organized one of the largest international conference on Africa in the entire history of California that took place in the beautiful environment of Claremont Hotel with the participation of all the Experts on Africa within the US Department of Commerce and the related agencies, international banks, including the African Development Bank, US organizations working on Africa and other business and academic institutions focusing on Africa. Few years later that we could count in months, this new Director was no more working with the EBCITD. Once again, Dr. Cherkaoui is on the run and few month later, this New Director use to be the Dean of Instruction at Vista Community College where the EBCITD was moved.
This Dean of Instruction, I met with him several times while he was the Dean given my role in organizing and providing training programs to Foreign delegates and Executives and he was effectively the Dean who authorized the final accreditation at the Vista Community College. So now I am contacted by this Dean who became Director of EBCITD and proposed to me to come to help him to manage the EBCITD. Again, as clearinghouse and mobile memory of the Center of International Trade Development, I am asked to provide life to this organization.
I managed the EBCITD, provided consulting services, taught courses to replace absent instructors at Vista Community College, organized training programs, hired interns from California and internationally, organized meeting and collaboration within the College, with the Students of International Trade and with all the representatives of business, professional organisations within North California, participated in writing federal grants, writing the year long plan and maintaining current all the inputs needed for activities and updating the required reports for the State of California. Furthermore, I represented EBCITD in multiples conferences and promotional events to recruit clients and establish working relationship with other similar groups and institutions.
Morocco, California and United States of America
I represented the EBCITD and 25 US and Californian Food companies in the American Cafe organized by the United State Food and Drug Administration, the US State Department and US Embassy in Morocco and spent more than a month developing relationship with companies and officials in Morocco and Tunisia. I wanted to facilitate the negotiations and the signing of the Free Trade Agreement that were initiated at this time by participating in the American Cafe held at Casablanca, see related pictures at the end of this text. I hired 2 assistants locally and paid all the expenses of my stay in Morocco from my own money.
I was driven by the spirit of my ancestors and by the dreams of my children, I was the link and the bridge between the history and the preparation of the future generations through my own little making and connecting two countries who had the longest and unbroken treaty of friendship since the time of the independence of the U.S. At my level, I was facilitating the signing of the Free Trade Agreement between the United States of America and the first country who recognized the independence of the United States, Morocco and this at the American Cafe at Casablanca, Morocco. This is my own expression: Play it again Uncle Sam to mimic Boggard in the fabulous love story in the movie “Casablanca” and all this happen in Casablanca. The return of a Moor to his land to develop trade relations with the land of his Children and that is Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui’s movie and destiny.
As we say in Islamic thoughts: “Seek knowledge even if it is in China” this was said during the time when people have to walk to travel to distant destination.
In fact, to make story shorter, the Executive Chinese who invited us to China wanted Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui to be the one who came to visit them in their country. Many others have tried to slide their names because I have give them some courses to teach to the same delegation and wanted to take advantage of such introduction to be invited to China but the officials and executives of Guizhou and Guiyang insisted to communicate and negotiate only with the presence of Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui.
In fact, I started the negotiations and I conducted all the training in China during our visit. But at certain point of the evolution of the negotiation for the signing of the contract, this New Director who was also the Dean of Instruction failed to conclude and to succeed in signing a contract with the same Chinese Officials because at the last moment, he put me on the side and wanted to have his own way to deal with the Chinese negotiating team while we were in China. He did not know my relation with them and did not understand how to smooth the talk and the offers and had no alternatives to present in terms of counter offer and give and take approach. He was more interested in having a profit on the paper than on the development of bilateral and mutual benefits for our organization, region and individually speaking. He wanted to reach a deal based on personal gain only; yes indeed. He told that when we were in Shanghai. I was really upside down that I refuse to go to attend an opera play that the same chinese official offered us to visit as part of our program.
I had no reason to celebrate any more. It was a premonition for more reason to lose completely and definitely the sense and the meaning of celebration.
Definitely, I was never paid for the majority work I did for the EBCITD during the tenure of this Dean transformed in a new Director. I was given here and there, some change to keep me going and hoping to be paid for the rest and thanks to this strategy of just drops of water for not to extinct completely my breath, I kept producing until I lost my house. Yes, indeed, this time is the negotiation for the roof on the top of the head of my family and myself that is gone forever and with no family around where to to at least protect the heads of my little girls and my spouse.
Now we go back to the picture comments:
Representing and Managing the CITD, the East Bay Center for International Trade Development, Berkeley in the United States and in China.
CITD and EBCITD Center for International Trade Development, I use to manage and I provided consulting services at this center, that I represented in Morocco and went to provide training and build relationship with Chinese officials and Executives in China.
This picture during an event I organized as collaboration with the Chambers of Commerce in the Bay Area. I even designed the brochure and the folder I am holding in my hand which has all the training and other promotional material of the EBCITD.
In another picture, I am conducting negotiation with Executives in China. In fact, I organized one of the first business and trade visit by a Chinese Delegation in California in 1995 with Vice-Mayor of Beijing and a second delegation from Yunnan.
With the pictures holding files and near the sign of the Center for International Trade Development, I even prepared these flyers too, inside outside and conducted the training and this is just one of them, hundreds of training sessions and seminars as well as conferences I have conducted in this Bay Area and with East Bay Center for International Trade and before CITD and East Bay Small Business Development and this without talking or taking in consideration the almost 20 years of teaching executive seminars, graduate courses and training programs at various universities and colleges around California and elsewhere.
N.B.: These are just the tip of the Iceberg of my entire work and involvement in the field of business, academic and humanitarian work for the benefit of California and the rest of the World: European, Africa, Latin American and Asian countries.
Additional Documents and References:
Certificate for International Trade and Seminars conducted by Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui
I have even designed and prepared these flyers too, inside outside and conducted the courses and the training and these are just one of hundreds of seminars, courses, training sessions and conferences I have conducted in this Bay Area of San Francisco with East Bay Center for International Trade (EBCITD) and before with the CITD and East Bay Small Business Development as well as other professional and business representatives organizations and this without talking or taking in consideration my almost 20 years of teaching courses and classes around California and elsewhere and the training I provided in foreign countries and to foreign delegations (France, Russia, Vietnam, India, Brazil, China, Sub-Saharan Africa, Morocco, Mexico and Vietnam) visiting the United States of America and California.
I have even designed and prepared these flyers too, inside outside and conducted the courses and the training and these are just one of hundreds of seminars, courses, training sessions and conferences I have conducted in this Bay Area of San Francisco with East Bay Center for International Trade (EBCITD) and before with the CITD and East Bay Small Business Development as well as other professional and business representatives organizations and this without talking or taking in consideration my almost 20 years of teaching courses and classes around California and elsewhere and the training I provided in foreign countries and to foreign delegations (France, Russia, Vietnam, India, Brazil, China, Sub-Saharan Africa, Morocco, Mexico and Vietnam) visiting the United States of America and California.
EBCITD and Berkeley City College and Workforce Development Program
@ Global Entrepreneurship and International Trade Finance
@ Global Marketing
@ Perspectives of International Sales Agreement
@ Best Ways to Structure International Payments
@ International Marketing
@ Global Strategies for Marketing your Business and Identifying Buyers and
Sellers for your Products and Services
@ Successful Strategies for Import / Export
Conducted by Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui
Berkeley, California, USA from 05/12/2006 to 11/18/2006
I have even designed and prepared these flyers too, inside outside and conducted the courses and the training and these are just one of hundreds of seminars, courses, training sessions and conferences I have conducted in this Bay Area of San Francisco with East Bay Center for International Trade (EBCITD) and before with the CITD and East Bay Small Business Development as well as other professional and business representatives organizations.
This set of work I have developed and established my reputation here at certain point of my professional drive as Mr. International Trade and no event that take place in the Bay Area of San Francisco and addressing international topic or subject could not be organized without my participation.
In fact, a prominent Californian person, Ms. Sunne Wright McPeak actually President and CEO of California Emerging Technology Fund who called me and addressed me as Mr. International Trade during the time when the regretted Mr. Ronald Brown who was the United States Secretary of Commerce during Clinton Presidency and who came to visit the Bay Area of San Francisco and the subsequent implementation of the program of Bay Trade with Mr. Olivera ad Jose Duenas as the Directors, two spaniards – Latinos, Bienvenido Amigos de Amigos e Hasta La Vista Amigo Extranjero.
The aforementioned International Workshops are just the peak of the Atlas Mountains in California given the fact that I have spent almost 20 years teaching Executives and Doctoral Seminars, Graduate and undergraduate courses and training classes around California and elsewhere. I have also organized and provided guidelines, build plans and strategies and conducted training in foreign countries and to foreign delegations (France, Russia, Vietnam, India, Brazil, China, Sub-Saharan Africa, Morocco, Mexico and Vietnam) visiting the United States of America and California.
Originally posted on December 19, 2019 6:09 pm – Republished on 7/2/2023
1993-1994 – Event for the Promotion of Export and International Trade Between Californiaand the Rest of the World that have Shaped my Memories and Destiny
don’t necessarily achieve an objective.
In California, it All Started in 1993 at the East Bay Small Business Development Center, at Green Breurner’s Building, the Former Largest Department Furniture Store at the 7th Floor with Ms. Selma Taylor as the Executive Director and Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui as the Business Consultant
Historical landmark columnist Annalee Allen called the Breuner Building “an eight-story reinforced concrete building with a distinctive variegated sea-green glazed terra cotta front facade, constructed in 1931 to house the John Breuner Furniture Company store. Other noteworthy features of the building include Art Deco motifs, and a pair of stylized figures crafting a chair located over the front entrance.”
The Oakland store was closed in the 1970’s and sold by the company where, following renovation, the historic building reopened as an office building in the late 1970’s.
The California Genealogical Society moved into the former Breuner Building in March 2007. As of 2012, the appearance of Ikea furniture, large yoga balls for sitting, and a flyer on the door indicating an entrance on the side heralded the move-in of a startup on the ground floor of the building – Spark Art.
From left to right in 1993: Tom Bates, California State Senator – Said El Mansour Cherkaoui, Center for International Trade Development – Executive at the Port of Oakland, Picture taken at Vista Community College – Berkeley
★ Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui Invited by the Central and Provincial Governments of China in 2004★
欢迎 慷慨和善良
Direct Relation with Chinese People from 1994 to Now
October 8. 1994 to October 29, 1994 – Dr. Said Cherkaoui and Laurent Roffe Developed Business and Trade Connections Between California and China and provided training programs to the first Chinese Research and Development Delegation
Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui invited by the central and provincial governments of China in 2004
新年快乐 – Xīnnián Kuàilè
★ Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui Invited by the Central and Provincial Governments of China ★
2004: Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui invited by the Government of China
★ Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui facilitated the meeting of High level Executive, Managers and Scientists in China and their American Peers – Contributed in the Trade Development of China and California and Southern Europe ★
Guiyang – Guizhou – China and Great Man at Great Wall
★ Dr. Cherkaoui facilitated Business Deals and Contacts Between High level Executives / Managers in Export – Import and Scientists from China with their Californian Peers ★
Guiyang – Guizhou – China
Great Man at Great Wall
To Facilitate the signing of the US – Morocco Free Trade Agreement, the USFDA, the US State Department, the US Embassy in Morocco organized the Casablanca Cafe, Trade show with US based food companies seeking to establish relations with the Moroccan business community
Made in Morocco with Moroccan Legacy Dr. Cherkaoui & Center for International Trade Development ★ CITD in Morocco
From left to right 2004: Omar Bouafi, Said El Mansour Cherkaoui and His Excellence the US Ambassador in Morocco: Mr. A. Riley in Casablanca.
Dr. Cherkaoui represented 25 food products / companies from California and the United States at the American Cafe / Trade Show organized by the U.S. FDA and the U.S. State Department at Casablanca, Morocco.
Dr. Cherkaoui & Center for International Trade Development ★ CITD in Morocco
NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR TRADE – CASABLANCA – MOROCCO
Dr. Cherkaoui organized and presented Multiple International Conferences Collaboration with the US Department of Commerce, the US Small Business Department, the US Small Business Association, the 2 East Bay and Bay Area Centers for International Trade Development and other local business professional representatives organizations and the Chambers of Commerce around the Bay Area of San Francisco
Dr. Cherkaoui presenting Business Opportunities in Morocco and Africa North Saharan Regions
Attendees at the Africa Conference Sponsored by the US Commercial Service at US Department of Commerce
International Conference on North Saharan Africa – Morocco – Algeria – Tunisia and Senegal – CITD and other Federal and California Institutions Conference on Africa with US Department of Commerce, San Francisco Email address and Phone Number have changed, please use this email for contact: saidcherkaoui@triconsultingkyoto.com
International Conference on Africa, I initiated and organized with the EBCITD (East Bay Center for International Trade Development) Oakland, California.
So to combine the useful with the pleasant, I published all these photos with first that of Africa over my shoulders. This photo dates from 2001, the year I suggested and participated in the organization of the First International Conference on Africa held in Northern California at Berkeley. Another will follow later in San Francisco in 2007.
I complete this first photo with others such as the one where the former CEO of the African Development Bank (Dr. Babacar Ndiang) was holding my hand and I am surrounded by African-American executives, one during one of my presentations and others showing a partial view of the audience.
Conférence Internationale sur l’Afrique a Claremont Hotel, Berkeley, California, USA
Since my early studies atInstitut des Etudes Politiques of the Grenoble University, France, the development and integration of Africa were at the forefront of my studies and topics of my presentations in seminaries and essay papers. It was natural that I continue to work and increase the awareness about Africa and its need of establishing new kinds of relations with other countries other than the past metropolitan and colonialists.
Here below among other pictures, there is a photo taken in the company with the Regretted Dr. Babacar Ndiaye, former CEO of the African Development Bank Group who hold firmly my hand and is standing at my left side.
I extended the invitation to Dr. Boubacar N’diaye for his presence among us at this International Conference on Africa. He was delighted about my presentation and we also sat together and had lunch at the same table. Wonderful Man with full love for Africa and Africans and who initiated a series of important financial and operational measures: the African Businessmen Round Table, the creation of the African Bank for import-export (Afreximbank) and the setting up of a special easy financing for the African private sector (investors and entrepreneurs) without the guarantee of their governments.
Conference on North Saharan and Sub-Saharan Africa – US Department of Commerce – San Francisco – California
International Conference on Africa
★ EBCITD & GLOCENTRA ★
Conférence Internationale sur l’Afrique a Claremont Hotel, Berkeley, California, USA
International Conference on Africa, Berkeley, California, USA
Since my early studies at Institut des Etudes Politiques of the Grenoble University, the development and integration of Africa were at the forefront of my studies and topics of my presentations in seminaries and essay-papers. It was natural that I continue to work and increase the awareness about Africa and its needs of establishing new kind of relations with other countries other than the past metropolitan and colonialists.
Here below among other pictures, there is a photo taken in company with the Regretted Dr. Babacar Ndiaye, former CEO of the African Development Bank Group who hold firmly my hand and is standing at my left side.
I initiated and developed a workplan on the organization of The International Conference on Africa took place in 2001. The first time in the history of the Bay Area of San Francisco and North California to have a conference of such magnitude and subject. that I submitted to Fazale Sharif the Director of the EBCITD which I was the initiator and for which I and participated directly in its organization. I contacted and invited Dr. Babacar Ndiaye and in the following photo, event / photo took place is during an International Conference on Africa I had organized in Oakland, California and of which Dr. Babacar Ndiaye, Rahimahu Allah was our Guest of Honor.
Here below are listed links which content present among others some illustrations of my activities in regard to the Integration of Africa with which I was directly involved, including the facilitation of the signing of the Free Trade Agreement between the United States and Morocco.
For many among us, time flies through horizons without leaving traces on recognition and gratitude on what we have achieved for the good for others especially in my case not be born in the United States but I remain up to now the maker of differences between cultures and the guardian of the memories I cherish and remember through my meetings and interactions with the real treasuries of the Humanity.
I extended the invitation to Dr. Boubacar N’diaye for his presence among us at this International Conference on Africa. He was delighted about my presentation and we also sat together and had lunch at the same table. Wonderful Man with full love for Africa and Africans and who initiated a series of important financial and operational measures: the African Businessmen Round Table, the creation of the African Bank for import-export (Afreximbank) and the setting up of a special easy financing for the African private sector (investors and entrepreneurs) without the guarantee of their governments.
The Conference Room was packed with U.S. and Foreign officials and Executives as well as faculties and Researchers on Africa and the Place where all these interactions took place was the fabulous and monumental Claremont Hotel in Berkeley, Northern California.
Said El Mansour Cherkaoui Organized the International Conference on Africa with Diversity and Multicultural Approach
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I initiated and developed a work plan on the organization of The International Conference on Africa took place in 2001. The first time in the history of the Bay Area of San Francisco and North California to have a conference of such magnitude and subject. that I submitted to Fazale Sharif the Director of the EBCITD which I was the initiator and for which I participated directly in its organization. I contacted and invited Dr. Babacar Ndiaye and in the following photo, the event/photo took place during an International Conference on Africa I had organized in Oakland, California, and of which Dr. Babacar Ndiaye, Rahimahu Allah was our Guest of Honor.
Here below are listed links which content present among others some illustrations of my activities in regard to the Integration of Africa with which I was directly involved, including the facilitation of the signing of the Free Trade Agreement between the United States and Morocco.
For many among us, time flies through horizons without leaving traces of recognition and gratitude for what we have achieved for the good of others especially in my case not be born in the United States but I remain up to now the maker of differences between cultures and the guardian of the memories I cherish and remember through my meetings and interactions with the real treasuries of the Humanity.
The second link below presents “The ADB honors its former president, the late Babacar Ndiaye:
The African Development Bank (AfDB) will pay tribute to honor its former President, late Dr. Bab…
The Conference Room was packed with U.S. and Foreign officials and Executives as well as faculties and Researchers on Africa and the Place where all these interactions took place was the fabulous and monumental Claremont Hotel in Berkeley, Northern California.
Said El Mansour Cherkaoui Organized the International Conference on Africa with Diversity and Multicultural Approach
Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui Conducting a Presentation during the International Conference on Africa
Dr. Cherkaoui conducting presentation on North Saharan and Sub Saharan Africa
Previous Work on Africa with the organization of visits of Business Delegation from Algeria, Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria and Egypt
December 6, 1994 – AFRICA – EGYPT
– Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui as Co-Chair and Laurent Roffe as the Chair of the International Business Committee Organized the First Visit of the Federation of the Egyptian Chambers of Commerce to California – Business Meeting at the Golden Gate University where Dr. Said Cherkaoui has taught in various Schools and Departments for 16 years as Adjunct Associate Professor from 1987 to 2003
Laurent Roffee and Dr. Cherkaoui organized the visit of the Federation of the Egyptian Chambers of Commerce to California and this Conference – Meeting at the Golden Gate University
Dr. Cherkaoui Co-Chair of International Business Committees at the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
Dr. Cherkaoui Co-Chair of International Business Committees at the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
Federation of the Egyptian Chambers of Commerce to California at the Business Conference – Meeting at the Golden Gate University, San Francisco – December 6, 1994
Laurent Roffee and Dr. Cherkaoui facilitated the signing of the Trade Treaty between San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of the Egyptian Chambers of Commerce
Laurent Roffee and Dr. Cherkaoui facilitated the signing of the Trade Treaty between San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of the Egyptian Chambers of Commerce
Dr. Barbara Beno Presidente of Vista Community College and Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui Consultant at CITD
Tom Bates (California Assembly and Mayor of Berkeley), Said El Mansour Cherkaoui and Senior Official of the Port of Oakland27/10/1994
USA – Testimonials Recognizing the Business Achievements and Competences of Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui
I was the Director of Graduate Business Programs at Dominican University of San Rafael, when Dr. Cherkaoui was teaching in our international MBA program. Said brought not only a solid academic background to the classroom, but also a wealth of business experience both in the US and in Asia and Latin America. He is passionate about his students and his work outside the classroom. This made him one of the most effective faculty that we had teaching at the time.
Said El Mansour Cherkaoui at the US Department of Commerce, San Francisco conducting a Presentation on Africa and Northwest Africa
Recommendation by Ersan Ertuzun, Corporate Communications Supervisor at WTC Istanbul
Dr. Said Cherkaoui is an exceptional figure in international business development. His broad range of expertise covers all ranges of economic development, with such accomplishments in international trade consulting, trade missions, small business development, just to name a few..
Dr. Cherkaoui has successfully conducted numerous trade missions, represented U.S. companies at trade shows, and helped companies develop their businesses overseas. His academic works have a significant contribution to the global business community, executives in world trade, and entrepreneurs.
I worked with Dr. Cherkaoui at the East Bay Center for International Trade Development. His expertise and services included and not limited to:
Always a role model and source of influence, Dr. Cherkaoui possesses extensive hands-on experience in a wide range of industries, as well as academic achievements, in the field of international trade and economic development.
Selected Publications and Research Programs by Said El Mansour Cherkaoui: Europe, China, North America – Mexico
Dr. Cherkaoui publication of his research on the development of technology in China – London 2001
Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui
Center for International Trade Development – CITD
At the EBCITD, Dr. Cherkaoui created and conducted certified workforce development and training programs and international business, sales and trade operations.
Since 1993, Dr. Cherkaoui conducted training on Market and Technology to Strengthen California Trade Relationship with markets, compagnies and countries that are located in Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia
In 1993-1994, within the Vista Community College at Milvia street we launched the First CITD in North California and the Third one in the History of the Californian CITD
Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui and Dr. Barbara Beno Presidente of Vista Community College
Judy Walters, Presidente of Vista Community College and Berkeley City College
Said Cherkaoui at the Celebration of the move of Vista Community College to the New Location of Berkeley City College
Said Cherkaoui, faculties, staff and International Trade Studies at the Celebration of the move of Vista Community College to the New Location of Berkeley City College
Said Cherkaoui, International Trade, faculties and staff at the building of Vista Community College during the Celebration of its move to the New Location with new name: Berkeley City College
VISTA THE FOUNDATION OF THE NEW BERKELEY CITY COLLEGE
October 23 1994, Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui and Dr. Barbara Beno Presidente of Vista Community College in front of her office and where the first office of the Center of International Trade Development was located
Said El Mansour Cherkaoui and the Center for International Trade Development
Working and covering the International and Regional Business Communities of Berkeley – Oakland – Emeryville – Albany – Alameda – Fremont – San Leandro and San Francisco in Northern California and beyond
Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui Representing the East Bay Center for International Trade Development – 4/28/2004
Tradeshow by the Bay Area Chambers of Commerce organized by the Berkeley, Oakland, Emeryville, Alameda Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Fremont, San Jose and San Francisco Chambers of Commerce,
Organizing the International Trade Student Association for and by the Students at Vista Community College with Sponsoship of the East Bay Center for International Trade Developement
As Business Consultant at the East Bay Small Business Development Center and the Center for International Trade Development (including the East Bay Center for International Trade Development) between 1993 to 1998 and 2001 to 2007, I have worked with the Hispanic communities and their business executives and individual entrepreneurs as well as the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Alameda County and Sacramento.
Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui, representante del Centro para el Desarrollo del Comercio Internacional (CITD) y Marruecos en una sesión ejecutiva de trabajo y una recepción organizada por las Cámaras Hispanas de Comercio de California, Condado de Alameda, Estados Unidos de America (https://www.cahcc.com/default.aspx#.YlFtssjMLrc).
Tom Bates (California Assembly and Mayor of Berkeley), Said El Mansour Cherkaoui and Senior Official of the Port of Oakland27/10/1994
From left to right: Omar Bouafi, Said El Mansour Cherkaoui and His Excellence the US Ambassador in Morocco: Mr. A. Riley in Casablanca.
Dr Said El Mansour Cherkaoui in China
Dr. Said El-Mansour Cherkaoui-invited-by the Government of China
I wish you another Giant STEP toward success. I have been around the arena of international trade and I know, I have seen, heard and read about what you have accomplished for California and its international traders and trading partners which is much more than just the exchange of goods.
In reality and more importantly you have directly enabled peace and rapprochement between different and distant cultures. You have opened new horizons for mutual understanding and laid down opportunities that carried identities, channeled values and shared beliefs that reinforced the goodness of our humanity.
These are the hidden but authentic driving forces for the authentic builders of international trade relationships between entities, organizations and nations and you are ONE designer, builder and developer of such missions. You deserve only the Best of the Best that will come to your path with the light of blessing and good health.
I look forward to keeping in touch with you and to continue to support and contribute to your drive toward making this world better for our children and the next generation.
It has been my great pleasure knowing you and working with you through the Center for International Trade Development at Oakland and later on at Berkeley.
In reality, your statement “transitioning out of this role,” brought back my memories with the CITD and the EBCITD.
You remind me too of my own transitioning within the CITD at its every productive turn from 1993 to 2007 with just a few gaps given the frequent changes of the local Directors.
I joined the CITD in 1993 when only 4 centers existed in the entire California. Our CITD was located at 2020 Milvia street inside of the Vista College with the Director Dr. Barbara Beno.
In 2006, the EBCITD and Vista College were transferred to the newly built and named Berkeley City College, here below is my presence pictured at this and other events around the world.
Moral of the story, I was at the founding of the Center for International Trade Development and at the Founding of the Berkeley City College and the transfer of the EBCITD at this new location.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
From left to right: Tom Bates, California State Senator – Said El Mansour Cherkaoui, Center for International Trade Development – Executive at the Port of Oakland, Picture taken at Vista Community College – Berkeley
Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui Developed Strategies, Organized Visits, Meetings and Conferences and Directed Training with the East Bay Center for International Trade Development and other trade organizations to Strengthen California Trade and Business Relations in Asia (China, India and Vietnam), (North and West), Europe (North and Euro-Mediterranean Regions) and Middle East(Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Gulf States)
From Casablanca to Shanghai to Strengthen California International Trade Relations by Said El Mansour Cherkaoui
Salam Alikoum – 新年快乐 – Xīnnián Kuàilè
★ Dr. Cherkaoui facilitated the meeting of High level Executive, Managers and Scientists from China with their American Peers ★
Dr. Cherkaoui Developed Business and Trade Connections Between California and China Since 1994
Director Richard Soyombo – Dr. Said Cherkaoui – Keith Rayner, CEO of Kemara
Said El Mansour Cherkaoui night-at-the-Tea-House-at-Guiyang-Guizhou-Province-China_
2005 – Trade Show on Export and Import from California organized by Said El Mansour Cherkaoui, CITD and the Bay Area Chambers of Commerce [Black Chamber of Commerce, Alameda County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Oakland Chamber of Commerce, Emeryville Chamber of Commerce, Berkeley Chamber of Commerce, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and San Jose Chamber of Commerce ]
BERKELEY – OAKLAND – SAN FRANCISCO – CALIFORNIA – USA
Capacity Building and Workforce Development Training Program
Samples of Certified Training
Created and Conducted by Said El Mansour Cherkaoui for the Workforce Development Progra – EBCITD
Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui Business, Research and Academic References
Dr. Barbara Beno Presidente of Vista Community College and Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui Consultant at CITD
USA – Testimonials Recognizing the Achievements and Competences of Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui
Connecting Culture, Politics, Business and Academia around the World
La Comunidad Hispana – California
As Business Consultant at the East Bay Small Business Development Center and the Center for International Trade Development (including the East Bay Center for International Trade Development) between 1993 to 1998 and 2001 to 2007, I have worked with the Hispanic communities and their business executives and individual entrepreneurs as well as the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Alameda County and Sacramento.
Dr. Said El Mansour Cherkaoui, representante del Centro para el Desarrollo del Comercio Internacional (CITD) y Marruecos en una sesión ejecutiva de trabajo y una recepción organizada por las Cámaras Hispanas de Comercio de California, Condado de Alameda, Estados Unidos de America (www.cahcc.com).
Recommendation by Dr. Wesley Young, Director, Services for International Students and Scholars at University of California, Davis –
I was the Director of Graduate Business Programs at Dominican University of San Rafael, when Dr. Cherkaoui was teaching in our international MBA program. Said brought not only a solid academic background to the classroom, but also a wealth of business experience both in the US and in Asia and Latin America. He is passionate about his students and his work outside the classroom. This made him one of the most effective faculty that we had teaching at the time.
Dr. Said Cherkaoui is an exceptional figure in international business development. His broad range of expertise covers all ranges of economic development, with such accomplishments in international trade consulting, trade missions, small business development, just to name a few..
Dr. Cherkaoui has successfully conducted numerous trade missions, represented U.S. companies at trade shows, and helped companies develop their businesses overseas. His academic works have a significant contribution to the global business community, executives in world trade, and entrepreneurs.
I worked with Dr. Cherkaoui at the East Bay Center for International Trade Development. His expertise and services included and not limited to:
Always a role model and source of influence, Dr. Cherkaoui possesses extensive hands-on experience in a wide range of industries, as well as academic achievements, in the field of international trade and economic development.
Publications and Seminars on Middle East by Said El Mansour Cherkaoui Stanford University Said El Mansour Cherkaoui: 1991, The structural causes of the Gulf crisis and the quest for a peaceful solution in the Middle East, Comunità internazionale, 46(1/2) 1991 : 141-163 Stanford University, Stanford, California University of California, Berkeley, Havilland Conference on the Middle East University of California at Berkeley, California
Academic Team of Soccer – Grenoble University -FranceHandball- National Moroccan Team – Bucharest – RomaniaMoroccan Pre-olympic and National Team of Handball in TunisiaPlayer at Munster 08 – Bundesliga Handball – GermanyHandball Team – University of Montpellier – France Handball Tournament with Steinhem (Bundesliga Germany and EJUC – UCEJ – El Jadida – Morocco)Basketball Team _ASPTT of Montpellier – FranceBasketball Team – USEJ of El Jadida- MoroccoBasketball Team – USEJ -El Jadida- MoroccoBasketball – Player Licence – USEJ – El Jadida – MoroccoBasketball – Player Licence – USEJ – El Jadida – MoroccoBasketball – Player Licence – USEJ – El Jadida – MoroccoVolleyball Team – JOC – El Jaidda – MoroccoVolley Ball – Beach Tournament – El Jadida – Maroc Where I started my Sportive CarrerSoccer Team – Rachad Club El Jadida – MoroccoSoccer TeamVice-Champion of Fencing – El Jadida – MoroccoChampion of Academic Games – Sud–Ouest – FranceChampion of Academic Games – Sud–Ouest – FranceCaptain – Coach – Player at Team of Montpellier University – France
We present you a part of our extensive work of analysis on Africa that we have conducted since 1977 while I was still a Simple Moroccan Student at SciencesPo Grenoble.
Africa has been and is still my Road Compagnon since I moved from our Motherland and the proximity of my Mother to seek knowledge in Europe.
My analysis of Africa and its relation with European and international entities is driven by my search for means, ways, and elements that I can use in the process of breaking down this complex topic or substance into smaller parts to gain a better understanding of it.
My studies on Africa are conducted en Francais / in English within a frame that I labeled – “Destin African” / “Africa Destiny” – which are the Categories of my work. In each category, I developed an analysis of the main areas and domains that have shaped and impacted the evolution of African countries
African leaders have suddenly become believers in the benefits of international trade liberalism which have … Continue reading
Africa is home to 30% of the world’s mineral reserves, 8% of the world’s natural gas, and 12% of the world’s oil reserves. Half of the global population growth from 2022 to 2050 will occur in sub-Saharan Africa.
Africa is the world’s second-largest continent and has the second-fastest growth rate after Asia. It is home to 1.3 billion people and 54 sovereign countries.
Africa is rich in natural resources, including oil, natural gas, minerals, forests, and wildlife. In 2007, Africa produced 12.5% of the world’s oil and 6.45% of the world’s natural gas.
Africa is also the world’s youngest continent, with a median age of 20 years and 60% of the population under the age of 25. This means that Africa has the potential to shape geopolitics and world economics in the future.
Africa is also the world’s largest free trade area and has a 1.2 billion-person market. In 2018, Africa was home to six of the world’s ten most dynamic economies.
Africa is an important investment destination for many leading U.S. industries and Fortune 500 companies. This contributes to U.S. jobs and increases the revenue base for several cities.
Today, I selected within the category of “Africa Destiny,” the topics of finance and investment that you will be able to access and review through the following lines and the quoted additional articles I developed on Africa in terms of the foreign direct investment flow since 2016.
I conducted and developed the present article as a combination of an analysis along with the inclusion of short insights published by specialized organizations. This form of presentation enabled me to provide you with case studies with my own analysis and those of other analysts. Similarly, these short insights provide an overview of foreign direct investment in Africa while their focus is on their seasonal/annual variations and trends.
Therefore, the present article contains also a selection of my publications that are more recent and current on the investment trends and economic changes in Africa.
As usual, your comments and inquiries or requests for additional information are always welcomed given that we are all responsible for the path that Africa is driven through, and your and our involvement in improving it can start here too.
Case-Study for Foreign Investment in Africa: Nigeria
From a market on Lagos Island, Nigeria, the skyline of the city of Lagos is visible. Among many companies, there is a great deal of nervousness around investing in Nigeria.
Nigeria has overtaken South Africa as Africa’s largest economy. With over 200 million people, it is the largest market in the continent, its population nearly twice the size of Ethiopia (110 million) or Egypt (102 million). Yet among many companies, there is a great deal of nervousness around investing in Nigeria. One business development officer of a large company told me recently: “We’re not in Nigeria; one of our guys heard you can’t go there.”
This kind of second-hand hearsay is a risky way to make proper business decisions. When firms make what we refer to as accidental decisions—those based on media reports or anecdotal evidence—it is hard to effectively quantify and manage risks. Nigeria is a challenging place to operate. But ultimately, the nation is too important to ignore.
Investment by the United States in Nigeria is Growing
Foreign direct investment stock from the United States into Nigeria was $5.8 billion in 2017, up 32.8 percent since 2016, according to the U.S. Trade Representative. However, a significant chunk of U.S. FDI in Nigeria and the continent goes into the resources sector.
Chinese construction firms are building road, rail, port, communications, mining, and energy projects funded by loans from The Export-Import Bank of China or state-owned banks, using Chinese machinery, and with Chinese operators often operating the asset after completion.
TOP 10 INVESTMENT DESTINATIONS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA – 2022
1. South Africa 🇿🇦 50%
2. Nigeria 🇳🇬 30%
3. Tanzania 🇹🇿 15%
4. Ghana 🇬🇭 14%
5. Kenya 🇰🇪 14%
6. Mauritius 🇲🇺 14%
7. Zambia 🇿🇲 11%
8. Uganda 🇺🇬 10%
9. Mozambique 🇲🇿 6%
10. Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 6%
In 2022, Tanzania attracted the highest number of trade deals and acquisitions in East Africa.
Some of Africa’s top investment sectors include oil and gas, consumer goods, mining, fintech, industrial and chemicals, technology, renewables, pharma, medical and biotech, retail, e-commerce, and banks.
A recent survey by KPMG International has ranked Tanzania as the third-most preferred investment destination in Africa.
Tanzania was placed behind South Africa and Nigeria in a list of the top 10 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, attracting future investments.
In East Africa, Tanzania is ranked number one, followed by Kenya, and Uganda.
Chinese business development teams visit Africa’s toughest neighborhoods to establish relationships—often long before most American executives have even considered an investment in the country in question. Headlines trumpet Chinese “investment” in Africa, but much of this is lending, rather than equity investment. International experience is helping Chinese firms improve their product quality, service delivery, and technological capabilities every day, making them ever-stronger global competitors.
The key to China’s success on the continent is designing “good enough” equipment for the price their customers will pay. A Chinese-made truck starter will fail after a fraction of the starts a North American truck operator considers normal—but it will also cost a fraction of the price. Likewise, a Chinese-designed smartphone will work on local networks, enjoy long battery life, run the right apps—and come at an affordable price. Despite recent political hiccups, Huawei is the dominant supplier of communications and networking equipment on the continent. Africans benefit from the firm’s low-cost vendor financing, ultra-advanced technology, and turnkey service for modern network installations.
In Nigeria, Demand Exceeds Supply
Nigeria is famous for its power shortages. With only about 5GW of grid power available (on a good day), it’s no surprise that there is an estimated 20GW of captive, backup, and household-level power installed by the private sector.
But this isn’t just a risk. It’s also a business opportunity.
In 2011, Nigeria privatized the power generation and distribution portions of its electricity industry. Performance is well below expectations so far, thanks to gas supply shortages, below-contract tariffs, and poor cash collection. The opportunity? Most manufacturers run their captive power plants—and they’re investing in advanced gas-fired turbines, high-efficiency production equipment, and renewable energy capacity. Households need prepaid electric meters, energy-efficient appliances, and more cost-effective standby generators.
The continent is becoming a big beneficiary of China’s large-scale investment in renewables—which are now vastly cheaper than they were just a decade ago. In Nigeria, solar, wind, and mini-hydro are rapidly filling in the gaps where grid power is unavailable. Local micro- or mini-grids can deliver power to light homes, charge phones, refrigerate medicines, preserve harvested produce, and bring the internet to schools.
In Nigeria, as elsewhere in Africa, the financial services sector is transforming. Mobile money accounts are increasingly popular, led by M-PESA in Kenya. Mobile money has boosted economic activity and brought millions into the financial services sector.
African financial technology entrepreneurs are testing innovative and potentially disruptive services. Where regulations allow, entrepreneurs and mobile operators are introduce low-cost mobile payment, investment, insurance, savings, loans, and cross-border money transfer services using the latest technology.
The most-read piece of 2019 on BRINK was this one on Nigeria and its growing economy. – December 29, 2019, by Melissa Cook – Founder and Managing Director of African Sunrise Partners LLC
The latest general elections have set the stage for Kenya’s next development chapter. The country has made significant political and economic reforms that have contributed to sustained economic growth, social development, and political stability gains over the past decade. However, its key development challenges still include poverty, inequality, youth unemployment, transparency and accountability, climate change, continued weak private sector investment, and the vulnerability of the economy to internal and external shocks
Sub-Saharan African economies are still recovering from the slowdown in 2015-16, but growth is slower than expected, according to the October 2018 issue of Africa’s Pulse, the bi-annual analysis of the state of African economies by the World Bank. The average growth rate in the region is estimated at 2.7 percent in 2018, which represents a slight increase from 2.3 percent in 2017.
Slow growth is partially a reflection of a less favorable external environment for the region. Global trade and industrial activity lost momentum, as metals and agricultural prices fell due to concerns about trade tariffs and weakening demand prospects. While oil prices are likely to be on an upward trend into 2019, metals prices may remain subdued amid muted demand, particularly in China. Financial market pressures intensified in some emerging markets and concern about their dollar-denominated debt has risen amid a stronger US dollar.
The slower pace of the recovery in Sub-Saharan Africa (0.4 percentage points lower than the April forecast) is explained by the sluggish expansion in the region’s three largest economies, Nigeria, Angola, and South Africa. Lower oil production in Angola and Nigeria offset higher oil prices, and in South Africa, weak household consumption growth was compounded by a contraction in agriculture.
Growth in the region – excluding Angola, Nigeria, and South Africa – was steady. Several oil exporters in Central Africa were helped by higher oil prices and an increase in oil production. Economic activity remained solid in the fast-growing non-resource-rich countries, such as Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, and Rwanda, supported by agricultural production and services on the production side, and household consumption and public investment on the demand side.
Public debt remained high and continues to rise in some countries. Vulnerability to weaker currencies and rising interest rates associated with the changing composition of debt may put the region’s public debt sustainability further at risk. Other domestic risks include fiscal slippage, conflicts, and weather shocks. Consequently, policies and reforms are needed that can strengthen resilience to risks and raise medium-term potential growth.
Africa 2016: Study on the attractiveness of African countries in terms of foreign investment, 2016-2020
The study indicates that the five most attractive African countries for international investors are Ethiopia, Nigeria, Morocco, Ghana, and Senegal.
Ethiopia comes at the top of this top 5, favored by 52% of investors surveyed, Nigeria ranks in 2nd position with 44% of respondents. Morocco occupies third place with 23% while Ghana is in fourth place with 21% of respondents’ intentions. Senegal is 5th with 19% of the votes in this poll.
Financing African growth by 2020: perception of international investors
Despite the slowdown in African economies due to the fall in oil and raw materials, the optimism displayed by these donors, foreign to the continent, can be explained by the improvement in the business climate, the structuring of free zone exchanges, the development of inter-African trade relations, demographic dynamism and the emergence of the middle classes, underlines the study.
Ethiopia owes its place to average annual growth that exceeds 8% and massive investments in infrastructure, while Nigeria is gaining the confidence of investors for the enormous challenge of diversifying the economy that awaits it; Morocco for an economy driven by an export-oriented manufacturing industry and the multiplication of free trade agreements.
If Ghana’s political stability and major regional road and port projects have not left investors indifferent, in Senegal, it is rather the favorable effects of the gradual transformation of its economy thanks to the development of the financial and telecommunications sectors. and new technologies, and the diversification of the economy which are highlighted.
This study was carried out among 55 international investors operating in Africa, including Bank of America, BNP Paribas, Edmond de Rothschild, Proparco, Qatar National Bank, Rothschild & Cie, Standard Bank, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, Merril Lynch, Attijariwafa Bank.
Source: “ Financing African growth by 2020: perception of international investors ” by Havas Horizons firm and Choiseul Institute, study on the attractiveness of African countries in terms of foreign investment, 2016-2020.
Foreign Direct Investment in Africa 2016
Investment from the Asia-Pacific region in Africa hit an all-time high in 2016, accounting for more than a fifth of foreign direct investment (FDI) projects and more than half of capital investment, reveals the study on the attractiveness of Africa, made public at the beginning of this month by the audit firm Ernst & Young. Last year, China and Japan competed with Western Europe and the United States to strengthen their influence on the African continent.
With 13.5% of FDI projects on the continent, the United States continues to be the leading investor in Africa in terms of number of projects. In 2016, American companies financed 91 projects, down 5.2%, creating 11,430 jobs. South Africa (28 projects) followed by Morocco (14 projects), Egypt (13 projects) and Kenya (11 projects) continues to be the preferred target of American donors. By sector, almost 25% of US FDI was invested in Technology, media, and telecommunications, down 11.5% compared to 2015.
Unlike the United Kingdom, which saw its share of FDI projects decrease by almost 47% in 2016, France progressed in the ranking, becoming the second largest investor in terms of number of projects. France invested in 81 projects in 2016, up 39.7% compared to 2015, with capitalization valued at $2.1 billion and 8,087 new jobs created.
The study highlights that Brexit, which took place at the end of June 2016, and the resulting uncertainty, appeared to have had an immediate impact on British investment in Africa.
Morocco remains the favorite destination for French investments, attracting 27.2% of FDI projects, followed by South Africa (12.4%), Ivory Coast (12.4%) and Tunisia ( 8.6%).
1. South Africa (139 projects) 2. Morocco (81 projects) 3. Egypt (79 projects) 4. Nigeria (51 projects) 5. Kenya (40 projects) 6. Ivory Coast (34 projects) 7. Ghana (28 projects) 8. Tanzania (22 projects)
Weak oil prices and harmful ongoing macroeconomic effects from the commodity bust saw flows contract in major host African economies.
“The beginnings of a commodity price recovery, as well as advances in inter-regional cooperation through the signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, could encourage stronger FDI flows to Africa in 2018, provided the global policy environment remains supportive,” UNCTAD Director, Division on Investment and Enterprise, James Zhan said.
FDI flows to North Africa were down 4% to $13 billion. Investment in Egypt was down, but the country continued to be the largest recipient in Africa. FDI in Morocco was up 23% to $2.7 billion, including as a result of sizeable investments in the automotive sector.
Lingering effects from the commodity bust weighed on FDI in sub-Saharan Africa, with inflows declining by 28%, to $28.5 billion. FDI flows to Central Africa decreased by 22% to $5.7 billion. FDI to West Africa fell by 11% to $11.3 billion, due to Nigeria’s economy remaining depressed. FDI to Nigeria fell 21% to $3.5 billion.
East Africa, the fastest-growing region in Africa, received $7.6 billion in FDI in 2017, a 3% decline from 2016. Ethiopia absorbed nearly half of this amount, with $3.6 billion (down 10%), and is now the second largest recipient of FDI in Africa. Kenya saw FDI increase to $672 million, up 71%, due to strong domestic demand and inflows in information and communication technology sectors.
In Southern Africa, FDI declined by 66% to $3.8 billion. FDI to South Africa fell 41% to $1.3 billion, due to an underperforming commodity sector and political uncertainty. FDI into Angola turned negative once again (down to -$2.3 billion from $4.1 billion in 2016) as foreign affiliates in the country transferred funds abroad through intra-company loans. In contrast, FDI in Zambia increased, supported by more investment in copper.
Multinational enterprises (MNEs) from developed economies (such as the United States, United Kingdom, and France) still hold the most extensive FDI stock in Africa. At the same time, developing-economy investors from China and South Africa, followed by Singapore, India, and Hong Kong (China), are among the top 10 investors in Africa.
FDI outflows from Africa increased by 8% to $12.1 billion, reflecting a significant increase in outward FDI by South African firms (up 64% to $7.4 billion) and Moroccan firms (up 66% to $960 million). Outward FDI by Nigerian firms, in contrast, remained flat at $1.3 billion, focused almost exclusively on Africa.
FDI inflows to Africa are forecast to increase by about 20% in 2018 to $50 billion. The projection is underpinned by the expectations of a continued modest recovery in commodity prices and strengthened inter-regional economic cooperation. Yet Africa’s commodity dependence will cause FDI to remain cyclical.
Source: UNCTAD, World Investment Report 2018. Note: Numbers presented in this figure are based on the FDI stock data of partner countries.
UNCTAD/PRESS/PR/2018/018 – Geneva, Switzerland, (06 June 2018)
Africa 2017: Foreign Direct Investment in decline
June 8, 2018 / 1:29 p.m.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to Africa stood at $41.5 billion in 2017, representing a decline of 21% compared to 2016, according to the 2018 edition of the Conference Report on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on Investment in the World.
This decline is mainly explained by the weakness of oil prices and the negative consequences of the poor performance of the raw materials sector on the macroeconomic level.
The drop in FDI is more marked in the sub-regions of the continent where the economies are dependent on raw materials: Southern Africa (-66%), Central Africa (-22%), and West Africa (-11%). %), North Africa (-4%), East Africa (-3%). Ethiopia, a leading destination for outsourcing in the textile, leather, and footwear sector thanks to wages ten times lower than those in China, attracted $3.6 billion, or around half of the flow of FDI to East Africa.
In Kenya, FDI amounted to $672 million, an increase of 71%, due to strong domestic demand and investments in the information and communication technology sectors. Morocco attracted 2.7 billion dollars (+23% compared to 2016), thanks in particular to the multiplication of establishments in the automotive industry sector.
FDI recorded on the continent during the past year remains mainly driven by multinational firms from developed economies such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. The UNCTAD report, however, highlights that investors from several developing economies, including China, South Africa, Singapore, India, and Hong Kong (China), are among the top 10 investors in Africa.
Another notable fact: the amount of African investments on the continent increased by 8%, to reach 12.1 billion dollars, thanks in particular to the aggressive expansion strategies of South African and Moroccan companies.
For 2018, FDI flows to Africa are expected to increase by around 20% to reach $50 billion, driven in part by expectations of a modest recovery in commodity prices and strengthened interregional economic cooperation that the signing of the Continental Free Trade Agreement will favor.
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