How Corporate America Really Views Africa
5-26-2009
Globally, competition for American FDI is high. Countries from all regions showcase their advantages, align their offers to U.S. needs, clamor for attention, and invest in their own countries to attract additional investment. Consequently, U.S. corporations do not lack investment choices, and they rarely consider African nations.
Further, news about Africa is mostly about chaos and unrest. Africa is not active or aggressive enough about attracting investment; the voices of the few countries that are making an effort get lost in the surrounding negative noise. Some African countries are making special efforts to assist foreign companies that invest. For example, Nigeria's president regularly engages with the local leaders of foreign companies to help cut through bureaucratic tape.
U.S. corporations need a strong and specific draw from Africa to make investment worthwhile. This can be the pull of a big market or a big source of critical raw materials or a belief that there is a competitive advantage to early entry into African markets. The survey data show that few of these pulls exist or are not sufficiently strong to be effective in the near term.
Note: This is a report on part one of a study in two parts about investment in Africa.
Project Announcements
Ferrero Expands Brantford, Ontario, Canada, Production Operations
04/19/2025
Switzerland-Based ABB Expands Senatobia, Mississippi, Production Operations
04/19/2025
Wow Bao Plans Forest City, North Carolina, Manufacturing Operations
04/19/2025
B-K Tool & Design Expands Putnam County, Ohio, Manufacturing Operations
04/19/2025
Lucid Group Plans Phoenix-Coolidge, Arizona, Manufacturing Operations
04/19/2025
Coast Expands Expands Salt Lake County, Utah, Operations
04/15/2025
Most Read
-
Run a Job Task Analysis
Q4 2024
-
The Location Economics of Advanced Nuclear
Q1 2025
-
39th Annual Corporate & 21st Annual Consultants Surveys: What Business Leaders and Consultants Are Saying About Site Selection
Q1 2025
-
NEW NIMBYism: A Threat to The U.S. Economy
Q4 2024
-
Power, Policy, and Site Selection in 2025
Q1 2025
-
Designing Beyond the Assembly Line
Q1 2025
-
Why Workforce Readiness Can’t Wait
Q1 2025