First things first: I am African (Kenyan) and PROUD OF IT!!

Ok, I have read alot of the forum postings about Africa and how " 90-99%" percent are fraudsters. The worst postings replace 'Nigeria' with 'Africa' and this is inter-changed.

The simple reason? Well, 99% of legit African businessmen and women are not online. They simply don't have access to the internet. They trade alot, billions of dollars worth every year, but NOT through Alibaba and such. Rather they trade through the non-internet channels that have existed for decades. Deals are made, orders are done etc

That's the reason you will have lots of posting on how African biz people are corrupt etc but have relatively few Africans replying.

Personally my e-business is my day job for the last 5 years. Yet I just got my 'always-on' internet access one month ago, and it's still dialup! I pay $60.00 per month for a 70 kbps connection (or 8.75 kBps).

The internet is infested with Nigerian scam artistes no doubt. I personally don't even read any 'buy offer' from that country and around 3-4 others (togo, Ghana etc. basically West Africa). I have wasted lots and lots of time as a newbie replying to these emails but to no avail. But I believe that 99% of the legit Nigerian businesspeople aren't online..only mischievious, bored and corrupt school boys and adult criminals are.

Anyway, to cut a very long story short. Understand that Africa is rapidly developing. Big and small businesses worldwide are doing buisness with Africa all the time. But not through the net.

Replying to [selengei]: you have a point on the internet issue. What do you suggest, as an African, how to contact serious businesses in Africa? What are the most reliable channels?
I think a lot of people are interested in making business with African countries since it is a huge, mainly unexplored market. But you must admit that the bad reputation of the continent is a result of the many scams, that generated distrust among potential business partners.

Replying to [Gabor Bathori]:
First and most important: Understand that Africa is a HUGE continent. Remember Africa is not a country like China or India. Africa is a continent made up of 53 different countries. Each country with it's own government, police force and laws dealing with fraud and crime. My point: IF a country like India or China or US was corrupt, the whole country would be called corrupt, no matter what part of the country you are. However in Africa, since there are 53 different countries, any label of corruption must be retricted to a particular country, not to the continent.

My suggestion on how to contact serious businesses in Africa? Well, contact the African country's embassy in you country to get a list of professional organisations that deal with the products you sell.

For example: if you deal with medical supplies, get the contacts of the Medical Association for that country (e.g. Kenya Medical Association, South Africa medical Association etc). They will then provide you with all relevant info about supplying, laws, who to contact, etc. It's only after you have gotten the right people and have started business with them that you can use email/internet to communicate.

Yes, I know it's tedious and slow, but remember the saying "When in Rome, do what the Romans do". Every region in the world has it's own peculiarities of culture, business etc. China has it's own, Australia has, and Africa too. Be willing to do some old-fashioned telephone calls and research.

Replying to [selengei]:Well said Selengei! I totally agree with you.

Replying to [selengei]: yes I know Africa is big. Anyway, your information is very useful, I hope the moderators will take notice of it. Your ideas could be a great help with serious businesses.

Replying to [selengei]:Thanks very much for your suggestion.It is very useful.But what do you think of the South Africa? I do not think they are limited to access to the internet. Because one of my Customer are "alway-online". It is very easy for us to communicate...

Replying to [selengei]:Selengei's information about the Africa and its business contact is very useful;

Is it possible to give further some clarification?

1.Banks: we heard that there are fradulent banks many., is there? if so how we find it in the transactions?

2.What are the safety measures we have to adopt when doing busienss with Africa?

3.Is there any insurance company?

4.what are the legal procedure to safeguard of our product and money?

There is at least one thing I can assure you all: there are indeed many serious African buyers to China. I went to Baiyun international airport in Guangzhou many times. If you go there,too, you will get the impression that the Africans are the most serious buyers to China. Every time I found many black people are trying to pack their goods with so much enthusiasm. I am not completely sure they are all from Africa, but I am sure most of them are. Almost all of the people who are carry large amount of goods are black, there.
I think it may be indeed more cost-effective for most Africans to import through the traditional way than through network. So most serious African merchandiser don't buy on net, and then the Afican fraudsters utilize this fact to disguised as them on the net.

Replying to [selengei]:

To African,their policies are faulty and they hope to do business with foreigners.Some people then grasp this opportunity to do some ugly cheat.

Replying to [selengei]:

To do business with African,just T/T in advance.

Replying to [Mascot India]:i dont think you would find a portal for such where you can be sure of the liability of the buyers (and even on alibaba you have scammers and cheaters) which would be comprehensive enough because the biggest dealers are not on the net as Selengei told but this is changing, and yet to come.