CEO Today Africa Awards

www.ceotodaymagazine.com CEO Today Africa Awards 2017 12 ANGOLA 3 reasons why Africa is a good investment Originally published in MarketWatch on March 7, 2017. Conventional wisdom holds that Africa’s fortunes have dimmed, due primarily to lower oil and commodity prices. To be sure, foreign direct investment in Africa dropped 46% in the second quarter of 2016, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. An Ernst & Young report, quoted by the Web site IOL.com, notes that “investor sentiment towards Africa is likely to remain somewhat softer over the next few years.” But if Africa were a stock, it would be a value play. Africa’s strong fundamentals point to real momentum in coming years. It’s true that the investment landscape has changed and there have been both economic and political hits in recent years, but this has not derailed the continent’s growth story. The International Monetary Fund projects that Africa will be the world’s second- largest economy within the next few years. Here are three positive indicators that favor investment in Africa. 1. Young and growing population: With a population of more than 1 billion people, expected to double by mid-century, Africa offers an enormous potential market. And while the rest of the world is aging, Africa is young. According to Deloitte, some 200 million Africans, about 20% of the population, are between the ages of 15 and 24, a figure expected to rise to 321 million by 2030. The global workforce may be shrinking, but in a few years Africa’s workforce will number some 1.1 billion, surpassing that of China and India. Africa’s young demographics point to economic strength, in that a working-age population is associated with favorable rates of GDP growth. Moreover, young Africans are also consumers who want the latest products, services and technology just like anyone else does. According to a recent Harvard University study, two major factors will determine Africa’s future economic growth prospects: growth in the working-age share of the population and institutional quality. While many African countries will see the youth workforce rise, only a few, such as Ghana and Namibia, have strong institutions and economies to take advantage of the bulge in workers. CEO INSIGHT www.abocapital.net ABOUT ZANDRE CAMPOS Zandre Campos is one of the great, innovative business leaders and global entrepreneurs emerging out of Africa. Currently, he is chairman and CEO of ABO Capital, an international investment firm headquartered in Angola with holdings throughout the Globe. Prior to founding ABO Capital, Mr. Campos was CEO of Nazaki Oil & Gaz S.A. He has held the positions of CEO of the mobile phone company Movicel Telecommunications and an executive in the office of the president of SONAIR, S.A., a subsidiary of Sonangol, Angola’s state-owned oil company that oversees oil and gas production. He began his career as a legal advisor with Sonangol Holdings. Mr. Campos sits on the board of Sphera Bluoshen S.A., a subsidiary of Oshen Group and part of Sphera Global Healthcare. Sphera is committed to bringing high-quality healthcare services to nations around the globe. He is also a board member in many global organizations including Bluoshen S.A. hospitality and Boost – Communication & Strategy, S.A. He is an advisor of the board of Uncharted Play renewable energy. Mr. Campos was named one of the Top 25 African business influencers and was a recipient of the Distinguished Business Excellence Award by African Leadership Magazine. He is frequently quoted as an expert on Africa in the media and is a recurring contributor for The Huffington Post and US News & World Report. He recently addressed both students and professors at the NYU Africa House on the opportunities in Africa. Mr. Campos graduated from Lusiada University, Lisbon, with a degree in Law. ZANDRE CAMPOS CEO of ABO Capital