Over the next 10 years, Africa’s total populace could surpass 1.5 billion. Moreover, only 20% of the continent’s predicted population growth will transpire in rural areas. Therefore, an industrial transformation is occurring. International markets now have multiple modern business opportunities in Africa.
Online Finance Services
The demand for financial consulting is immense. Estimates have determined that 80% of Africa’s population does not have access to banking or financial services. Therefore, the evolution of the FinTech industry is underway. FinTech utilizes modern technology to improve the affordability and accessibility of financial services. Approximately 88% of sub-Saharan African countries now implement FinTech policies. Companies such as M-Pesa and Branch have successfully established their business strategies in these regions.
Branch is a digital financial service provider that capitalizes on the worldwide growth of smartphone usage to deliver financial consultation to those in need. The company operates in Tanzania, Kenya and Nigeria. Branch currently serves 3 million customers. Recently, Branch acquired over $150 million in funding to further pursue its initiative. The company hopes that providing small loans will stimulate economic development in low-income areas.
Virtual Healthcare
Providing equal access to affordable healthcare is an objective modern technology can accomplish. In sub-Saharan Africa, only one physician is available for every 5,000 people. In the U.S., there is one physician per 384 citizens. Generating digital platforms to further distribute healthcare in Africa is an under-crowded market. Companies such as Redbank and Lafiya Telehealth App now operate in this sector.
Lafiya Telehealth App incorporates smartphone application technology to provide healthcare to citizens of Nigeria. Lafiya focuses specifically on individuals living in isolated areas, who tend to be poorer. Lafiya’s programs aim to replace in-person medical examinations with voice calls, video calls and instant messaging. With wide and accessible reach, Lafiya is serving an enormous market.
United States Government Initiatives Promoting Commerce with Africa
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is a U.S. government initiative that provides African countries with access to thousands of American commodities. In order for countries to participate, they must launch programs to decrease poverty, protect individual rights, institute a criminal justice system and more. Currently, 38 African countries are eligible to engage in trade and investment with the U.S. AGOA has directly created over 100,000 American jobs, connected U.S. businesses with buyers and suppliers in Africa and generated over $1 billion in exports. Trade between the U.S. and African nations has grown by 300% since the Act came into effect. The U.S. government has extended this program to 2025.
The success of AGOA has prompted the creation of Prosper Africa. Prosper Africa is a U.S. policy with a design to further increase opportunities for trade between the United States and Africa. Prosper Africa increases Africa’s availability to U.S. digital and in-person services, supports commerce by advancing profit-making contracts and enhancing cooperation with African institutions to create healthy business environments. The completion of these objectives will produce profits for employees, businesses and stakeholders among both regions.
The U.N. Conference on Trade and Development recognized Africa as one of the most profitable regions in the world. The continent’s growing urban population, increase in consumer spending and largely untapped markets provide ample scenarios for international corporations. Modern business opportunities in Africa will continue to grow with the implementation of U.S. government initiatives to improve local economies, promote stable growth and persuade future business investments. These modern business opportunities in Africa will expand as wealthy nations share resources and generate economic growth in regions across the continent.
– John Brinkman
Photo: pxfuel