TRADING WITH AFRICA
Post 1 of 14
TRADING WITH AFRICA
Trade with Africa has been under discussion in the forum lately and that made me decide to write this article. I have lived in South Africa all my live. I am an Export Agent.
I think the first thing we need to understand is that Africa is a continent not a country. One continent with lots of countries and each country have its own monitory systems, their own import/export laws, different governments with different policies and methods of governing. You can always use the CIA World factbook:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/ to get very specific information on any country in the world. I find this very helpful.
It is always the bad news about Africa that reaches the rest of the world, bad news sells better, I guess. We cannot be blind to the fact that there are countries with serious problems, like our neighbour, Zimbabwe. There are also spot where civil war has been raging forever and this (the bad things) are all the rest of the world gets to see. Africa is still seen as the Dark Continent.
Then there are all those scammers and fraudsters that say they are in Nigeria, Togo or Cameroon. We know that these people lie and steel and cheat, but we actually believe them when they say they are in Nigeria, how do we know that part is true....
One scammer claiming to be Nigerian was (according to Fraudwatchers.org) traced to Canada. I am mentioning this because I think it is a big part of the suspicions and unwillingness to trade with Africa. There is a wonderful website which will give you a better idea about what is really happening in Africa as far as trading and investment is concern.
Have a look at this site: http://www.tradeinvestsa.co.za/about_tisa/ .
I am no expert on the whole of Africa, but I do know that thing are not bad and chaotic everywhere, for instance there was a recent article on the above mentioned website about the growing middle classes in Nigeria (yes, Nigeria) and the demands created by this growing group and Rwanda, yes, Rwanda (Capital City, Kigali) is often referred to as the "Singapore of Africa", there is massive growth in the economy.
Do not underestimate Africa, China is definitely not ignoring us, they are investing and trading all over Africa. There are, partly because of all the conflict in the past, huge amount of untapped natural recourses all over Arica. Angola is full of diamonds and we (good old S.A.) has got coal and gold and Platinum. Nigeria and other countries up north has got untapped oil recourses etc, etc..
There is also an article on my website about the upcoming (in April) National elections in South Africa if you would like to read more. Our economy has been effected by this worldwide mess, unemployment is up and basic items are becoming seriously expensive, but our banks are still standing, at least the Government did not need to bail them out. We are also blessed with one of the best Ministers of Finance in the world, Mr. Trevor Manual.
So, we have our problems, but which country/continent does not have any problems?
Rika Scheepers,
AfRikabiz Export Consultancy
Trade with Africa has been under discussion in the forum lately and that made me decide to write this article. I have lived in South Africa all my live. I am an Export Agent.
I think the first thing we need to understand is that Africa is a continent not a country. One continent with lots of countries and each country have its own monitory systems, their own import/export laws, different governments with different policies and methods of governing. You can always use the CIA World factbook:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/ to get very specific information on any country in the world. I find this very helpful.
It is always the bad news about Africa that reaches the rest of the world, bad news sells better, I guess. We cannot be blind to the fact that there are countries with serious problems, like our neighbour, Zimbabwe. There are also spot where civil war has been raging forever and this (the bad things) are all the rest of the world gets to see. Africa is still seen as the Dark Continent.
Then there are all those scammers and fraudsters that say they are in Nigeria, Togo or Cameroon. We know that these people lie and steel and cheat, but we actually believe them when they say they are in Nigeria, how do we know that part is true....
One scammer claiming to be Nigerian was (according to Fraudwatchers.org) traced to Canada. I am mentioning this because I think it is a big part of the suspicions and unwillingness to trade with Africa. There is a wonderful website which will give you a better idea about what is really happening in Africa as far as trading and investment is concern.
Have a look at this site: http://www.tradeinvestsa.co.za/about_tisa/ .
I am no expert on the whole of Africa, but I do know that thing are not bad and chaotic everywhere, for instance there was a recent article on the above mentioned website about the growing middle classes in Nigeria (yes, Nigeria) and the demands created by this growing group and Rwanda, yes, Rwanda (Capital City, Kigali) is often referred to as the "Singapore of Africa", there is massive growth in the economy.
Do not underestimate Africa, China is definitely not ignoring us, they are investing and trading all over Africa. There are, partly because of all the conflict in the past, huge amount of untapped natural recourses all over Arica. Angola is full of diamonds and we (good old S.A.) has got coal and gold and Platinum. Nigeria and other countries up north has got untapped oil recourses etc, etc..
There is also an article on my website about the upcoming (in April) National elections in South Africa if you would like to read more. Our economy has been effected by this worldwide mess, unemployment is up and basic items are becoming seriously expensive, but our banks are still standing, at least the Government did not need to bail them out. We are also blessed with one of the best Ministers of Finance in the world, Mr. Trevor Manual.
So, we have our problems, but which country/continent does not have any problems?
Rika Scheepers,
AfRikabiz Export Consultancy
18 Mar 2009 05:12
Post 3 of 14
I always try to post a fair comments on topics. We do have honest customers and scammers in Africa. Nigeria is just one country in Africa continent, and also the scammers are only parts of the traders. I think rikas really know the situation in Africa. It is geographically a big market but practically a limited market for business.
China do invested a lot in the giant continent for infrastructure because China see the mutual benefit of cooperation and win-win trend all over the world. We try to better the MADE IN CHINA with higher quality and favourable price instead of the blamed quality as 10 years before. Everything is developing step by step, so is Africa.
China do invested a lot in the giant continent for infrastructure because China see the mutual benefit of cooperation and win-win trend all over the world. We try to better the MADE IN CHINA with higher quality and favourable price instead of the blamed quality as 10 years before. Everything is developing step by step, so is Africa.
23 Mar 2009 01:25
Post 4 of 14
I always try to post a fair comments on topics. We do have honest customers and scammers in Africa. Nigeria is just one country in Africa continent, and also the scammers are only parts of the traders. I think rikas really know the situation in Africa. It is geographically a big market but practically a limited market for business.
China do invested a lot in the giant continent for infrastructure because China see the mutual benefit of cooperation and win-win trend all over the world. We try to better the MADE IN CHINA with higher quality and favourable price instead of the blamed quality as 10 years before. Everything is developing step by step, so is Africa.
China do invested a lot in the giant continent for infrastructure because China see the mutual benefit of cooperation and win-win trend all over the world. We try to better the MADE IN CHINA with higher quality and favourable price instead of the blamed quality as 10 years before. Everything is developing step by step, so is Africa.
23 Mar 2009 01:27
Post 5 of 14
Dear annazhoa
Thank you for your comment, I think Africa and China are the two current black sheep in the Import/Export business and it is realy a small group of "bad people" that gives everybody else a bad name. Such a pitty
24 Mar 2009 10:25
Post 6 of 14
Judging a whole country by a few individuals is always nonsense. Ironically though, it helps those of us who have a closer look and know how to tell the grain from the chaff. In what scams are concerend, I'm willing to deal with any country in the world... but not with any individual! Regarding those who think otherwise, who cares if some silly people lose business due to their prejudice.
25 Mar 2009 11:47
Post 7 of 14
rikas wrote:
Dear annazhoa
Thank you for your comment, I think Africa and China are the two current black sheep in the Import/Export business and it is realy a small group of "bad people" that gives everybody else a bad name. Such a pitty
, I like Germex and his candid and mature reasoning too i do agree with what he says but recent news and This may appear as bad news for it seconds your thoughts.
CHINESE CYBER ESPINOGE..... its scary if true.
Your emotional plea not to tycst the country based on individuals along with Germex advocating the same sounds good.
It all boils down to a simple fact that most scammed are scammed due to greed and lack of DUE DILEGENCE..
31 Mar 2009 01:06
Post 8 of 14
The difference in the two being the nigerian cannot be traced as for the chinese i do wonder if he would be executed if found giving Chian a bad name.
If someone is today still cheated by a nigerian then that person ought to be daft . we must go by the assumption that 100% frauds exist in Nigeria and no amount of greed can justify contemplation of trading there.
In the case of China most occur in the mobile and ipod sections and this is becuase greed takes over. No doubt with a helping hand from this web dealer.
If someone is today still cheated by a nigerian then that person ought to be daft . we must go by the assumption that 100% frauds exist in Nigeria and no amount of greed can justify contemplation of trading there.
In the case of China most occur in the mobile and ipod sections and this is becuase greed takes over. No doubt with a helping hand from this web dealer.
15 Apr 2009 13:29
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![[em21]](http://img.alibaba.com/images/eng/style/icon/emoticons_gift.gif){kind=icon}
Post 10 of 14
vskohl
Hi, you might also be loosing out on some genuine deals. As far as China is concern, I am cautious, but as Germex pointed out, you cannot say a Whole country are all scammers and if they hang you in China for this, then hanging is obviously not a great deterrent.
I think it all boils down to our fear of the unknown. I am not afraid of Afrika because I am an African, but I am more cautious of other places like China
20 Apr 2009 09:40
