Gateway to Africa

South Africa has the resident marketing skills and distribution channels imperative for commercial ventures into Africa.South Africa is among the top 30 countries in the world for ease of doing business, according to a 2005 World Bank report. The finding suggests that South Africa is making progress in creating an environment conducive to investment, which the government has identified as key to achieving a 6% growth rate.
The survey ranked 155 countries according to the number of procedures, time and costs involved in: starting a business; dealing with licences; hiring and firing workers; registering property; getting credit; protection for investors; paying taxes; trading across borders; enforcing contracts; and closing a business.
South Africa ranked 28th, ahead Spain (ranked at 30), Austria (32), France (44), Russia (79), China (91) and Brazil (119). Overall, SA had the highest ease-of-business ranking on the African continent.South Africa's industrial production growth is well above the average for developing markets.
The country's manufacturing output is becoming increasingly technology-intensive, with high-tech manufacturing sectors - such as machinery, scientific equipment and motor vehicles - enjoying a growing share of total manufacturing output since 1994.
SA's technological research and quality standards are world-renowned. The country has developed a number of leading technologies, particularly in the fields of energy and fuels, steel production, deep-level mining, telecommunications and information technology.

Trading stocks in Africa

Experienced african stock traders and investors recognize that trading stocks with momentum is among the fastest & most effective ways to harvest BIG piles of cash in the stock market. Why? Because certain stocks with momentum bring the posibility of gaining as much as 100% on the same trading day. Some may only rise 10% on a few minutes. The problem is that if you don't know what stocks to look for and how to approach them while limiting your risk, you won't even get close to making some profits. You don't necessarily have to trade momentum hot stocks all the time. But you can learn how to take advantage of them when you encounter the best opportunities while at the same time limiting your risk.

West African Economic and Monetary Union

The West African Economic and Monetary Union (or UEMOA from its name in French, Union économique et monétaire ouest-africaine) is an organization of states of West Africa established to promote economic integration among countries that share a common currency, the CFA franc.
UEMOA was created by a Treaty signed at Dakar, Senegal, on January 10, 1994 by the Heads of State and Government of Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo. On May 2, 1997, Guinea-Bissau became its eighth member state.
UEMOA is a customs union and monetary union between some of the members of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Its objectives are
Greater economic competitiveness, through open and competitive markets, along with the rationalization and harmonization of the legal environment
The convergence of macroeconomic policies and indicators
The creation of a common market
The coordination of sectoral policies
The harmonization of fiscal policies
In terms of its achievements, UEMOA members have implemented macroeconomic convergence criteria and an effective surveillance mechanism; have adopted a customs union and common external tariff (early 2000); have harmonized indirect taxation regulations; and have initiated regional structural and sectoral policies. A September 2002 IMF survey cited the UEMOA as "the furthest along the path toward integration" of all the regional groupings in Africa.
ECOWAS and UEMOA have developed a common program of action on trade liberalization and macroeconomic policy convergence. ECOWAS and UEMOA have also agreed on common rules of origin to enhance trade, and ECOWAS has agreed to adopt UEMOA’s customs declaration forms and compensation mechanisms.

Members
Benin (1994)
Burkina Faso (1994)
Côte d’Ivoire (1994)
Guinea-Bissau (On May 2, 1997)
Mali (1994)
Niger (1994)
Senegal (1994)
Togo (1994)

The Angolan Stock Exchange

Angola is one of the few countries in the Southern African region that still does not have its own stock market, despite the fact that the country is turning into one of the main economies of the region. The government of Angola has announced its plans to fast-track the planned opening of its Stock Exchange.The bourse is expected to boost investments in the country.
The Angolan Stock Exchange (BVA) will likely be launched in the third trimester of this year with ten listed companies and an initial capitalisation of more than US$ 6 billion, according to the Angolan Industry Ministry's coordinator of the Centre for Capital Markets, António Cruz Lima. The BVA will be located in Luanda, the political and economic capital of Angola.

According to Mr Cruz Lima, the Luanda government can expect to collect about US$ 940 million in taxes from stock market activities. Collecting Angola's main companies on the Luanda bourse will also give the international finance market improved possibilities of investing in Angola.

Of the 14 countries that comprise the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Angola is one of only three countries that does not have an institutionalised stock market. The other two SADC countries without a stock exchange are Tanzania and Congo Kinshasa (DRC), both minor economies compared to Angola.

While Angola is a deeply impoverished country following 27 years of civil war, its economy is rapidly growing powerful. Angola is sub-Saharan Africa's second largest oil producer - after Nigeria - and international and Angolan oil companies are currently scrambling for the rich undiscovered oil reserves offshore and in the Cabinda province. Further, Angola is very rich on diamonds and many other minerals and metals.

The southern African country is therefore mostly receiving in its mining and energy sectors. However, the improving investment climate in Angola has also led to the slow establishment of a manufacturing industry in the country. Earlier this year, Volkswagen announced its plans to build cars in Angola together with an Angolan company.

Angola is still in a process of reconstruction and resettling large numbers of refugees after the long and brutal civil war. The reconstruction work is however increasingly counting on private and corporate investments.Further, large-scale investments in Angola are mainly focusing on infrastructure, including the telecom sector.