Africa – time to invest

I have just returned from another trip to Africa, my second this year after two journeys last year. I hope to make two further visits later in 2012 as well – one to the Global Dairy Platform annual forum and the International Dairy Summit at Cape Town in November.

I have to be there as it is my job to keep up with the future… and the future for Africa is developing fast.

Here are some compelling fundamentals:

• Great natural resources including energy, minerals and water.

• Very young aspirational population rising faster than Asia.

• Rapid economic growth and increasing stability.

• Governments recognising the mutual benefits of partnership with business.

Companies like Coca-Cola, Nestlé and SABMiller are already huge employers and have announced very substantial investments amounting to many billions of dollars.

Africa is beginning to realise it’s all too long deferred potential.