How Africa's business environment is evolving

AFRICA

The reason Africa is becoming a worthwhile investment bet is because of the way businesses in Africa are adapting to new legislation, says Paul Clark, African equities specialist at Ashburton International

How much do politics and government decisions matter to businesses operating on the African continent? If you had asked the Asian businesses community in Uganda this question in August 1972, when they had been given three months to leave the country by Idi Amin, the answer would have been – a lot. However, in many countries the political environment in the last decade, although not providing a very business friendly environment, has been rather benign to business. How have businesses had to adapt to operate in Africa? Businesses have, for example, learnt how to operate in conditi...