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(Online-Artikel.de) - The African Market: Challenges and Responses

In his presentation on 20th May 2011 at the VI.African Summit, chaired by the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria H.E. Obasanjo, WUSME General Secretary summarized the market trends and opportunities for Micro- Small and Medium Enterprises as follows:

1. Africa is, and will continue to be, one of the fastest-growing economic regions in the world, thanks to surging demand both from abroad (from China and India in particular) and at home (fuelled by urbanization and consumerism;
2. Telecoms, banking, retailing, manufacturing and even agriculture will be the region's fastest growing sectors: Africa's consumer market will account for the region's largest growth;
3. Energy from renewable sources, sun, water,wind, biomass, waste to energy;
4. Africa's youthful workforce will be a key advantageyx
5. Smart phones will be the fastest-growing category of handsets, even in the poorer areas, where they often serve as a substitute for PCs. Commerce will flourish in 2011
6. Africa is well positioned to profit from natural resources as global demand for commodities continues to rise.

Small and Medium Enterprises that succeed in these neglected emerging markets are not only putting down roots in the world's most fertile soil. They are giving themselves a chance to establish business habits for years to come.

WUSME can certainly provide support to the African Countries in the following areas:

1. Facilitate technology transfer from WUSME member countries to the organisations and enterprises in Africa.
2. Enterprise to enterprise cooperation.
3. Training to African Entrepreneurs for setting up SMEs.
4. Undertake mission with a view to provide policy and institutional reforms.

Our World Union's mission is to assist Government Agencies for Development and SME Supporting Institutions to reach the Millennium Development Goals and to facilitate doing business in the less privileged economies in Africa.