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Africa: The Good news
By: Hugo Lambrecht; Managing Director Africa at Emerging Partners - an IESF Group International partner firm

Africa holds immense potential, it’s a hopeful continent and the continent is finally ready for a large transformation.   It is important to know that when looking at Africa you have to look at each country individually.  So let’s start with some of the bigger problems we are facing.  There are currently 4 ongoing wars in Africa; in South Sudan, Nigeria, Libya and Mali.  Living in any of the other 49 countries will not affect you directly. Nigeria is still considered ‘safe’ and is currently the largest economy on the continent, war and all.  The Ebola virus is on decline and have reached minimal countries on the continent.  Although a threatening disease, it is reported to be under control and predicted to be eliminated across the year with various treatment options. 
Now for the good news…
An update on Africa:
• Nigeria:  Nigeria is currently building Eko Atlantic City, Eko Atlantic will change the face of Africa and will help Lagos State transform itself into megacity status on the world map. This state will provide space for the 25 million people expected to live and work in the region by the year 2015.  Lagos and Eko Atlantic are expected to become the new financial epicentre of West Africa by the year 2020. By that time, Nigeria will be one of the world’s 20 largest economies.
• Kenya:  Kenya to build Africa's largest wind farm.  Once complete, the almost-400 turbines is expected to produce around 310 MW of electricity, and according to a media statement will save Kenya approximately $178 million in fuel imports every year. With a project of this size, it is also expected to only be completed in 2017.
• Cote d’Ivoire: Port Expansion Plans 2015.  The Export-Import Bank of China has provided a loan of around $875 million to Cote d’Ivoire for the construction of a second container terminal at the state-owned port of Abidjan.  Construction work will include the enlargement of the Vridi canal and a roll on-roll off (roro) terminal.  Construction is expected to start in the first quarter of 2015 and be completed by 2021. The terminal will also provide the port facility with one of West Africa's most state-of-the-art trans-shipment platforms, offering a capacity of over two million containers.
• Kenya: Global fast food franchise Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has opened Kenya’s first drive-through outlet on Mombasa Road. The store which is a joint venture between Total and KFC cost $1 million investment (Sh90 million) to set up. The outlet located at a Total petrol station will see customers order, pay and pick up their food while still in their cars.
• Lesotho:  Forget importing quality trout from Norway or Alaska, Lesotho is currently producing world-class fish in the mountains of Lesotho. The production takes place in the Katse Dam, Africa's second largest dam. The Fish is exported for sushi, fish for restaurants and shops to Japan and South Africa. Japan takes 80% of its produce, 15% goes to South Africa while the remaining 5% is sold locally.
• Uganda: Uganda has gone down in automotive history as the first East African country to create a hybrid motor vehicle. The finalized hybrid prototype, known as the Kiira EV-SMACK, has gone on display in Kenya ahead of its production in 2018.
• South Africa:  Africa's largest solar plant completed in South Africa.  The power project, located in South Africa's Northern Cape Province, came online in October 2014. Google reportedly invested US$12 million into the solar project and is the first renewable energy investment in Africa by the internet search engine.
• Angola:  Angola's longest (and fastest) rail line completed.  It's called the Benguela Rail Line as its starting point is in the Province of Benguela in the West of Angola.  The Benguela railway line stretches for 1,304 km between Lobito (Benguela) and Luau (Moxico) in the East of Angola. The construction contract involved rebuilding of 67 stations and will allow a maximum train speed of 90 km per hour with capacity for 20 million tons of cargo per year.  The Angolan authorities estimate that the Benguela Railway Line will have around 50 trains running on it per day and will make it possible to transport four million passengers.
Africa is a rising continent bursting with potential, every day we read of success stories like these across the continent.  We look forward to report on more of these success stories in the future, until then, we will do what we do best – finding our clients trustworthy and remarkable leaders for their African operations. (Foto: Nairobi - Kenya)