New report highlighting the untapped business potential in West Africa launched by the Dubai Chamber
The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has launched a new initiative dubbed ‘Why Africa’.
The newly launched initiative highlights the region’s untapped business potential, key economic indicators and competitive advantages.
Based on recent data from UNCTAD, up-to-date insights for prospective investors and recent trade trends, the Why Africa initiative provides in-depth analysis of the region’s trading activities.
“Africa is one of the world’s most promising regions for economic growth, which is featured prominently on many global indicators in recent years as one to watch out for. Market research is essential for UAE investors who are studying the possibility of expanding their businesses into Africa key African countries. Dubai Chamber’s ‘Why Africa?’ initiative seeks to provide such insights that can help them make a more informed business decision,” said His Excellency Hamad Buamim, President and CEO of Dubai Chamber announcing the Chamber’s new initiative.
“Why Africa initiative serves as a reference point for UAE businessmen to evaluate opportunities across various economic sectors. Such prospects will be in the spotlight at the upcoming GBF Africa in Dubai, where industry players and key decision makers from can offer an insider’s perspective. “Why Africa?” and the forthcoming GBF Africa are important channels that can be leveraged to boost Dubai-Africa trade and investment flows in the coming years,” His Excellency Hamad Buamim added.
Among the key data areas covered by the “Why Africa” initiative are: population, GDP, FDI and trade trends.
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Home to 412.4 million people (as per 2021 estimates), West Africa is Africa’s second most populous region and comprises sixteen countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, Benin, Togo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mauritania, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Cabo Verde, and Saint Helena.
According to the Chamber, Sub-Sahara Africa is Dubai’s largest trading partner out of all African regions. In 2020, West Africa accounted for 33.2% of the emirate’s trade with Africa, with a total trade value of $16.8bn (AED61.7bn), making up approximately 75% of the region’s overall trade.
It is the continent’s second-largest region in terms of total real GDP, with average GDP value nearing the $709.2 billion mark.
The launch of the “Why Africa” initiative is in the lead up to the Global Business Forum (GBF) Africa 2021, which takes place October 13-14 on the side-lines of Expo 2020 Dubai.
The GBF Africa 2021 is being hosted at Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo 2020 Dubai under the theme Transformation Through Trade with the forum bringing the trade and investment community together to explore bilateral trade opportunities between Dubai and sub-Saharan Africa.
The event is the first in Dubai Chamber’s programme of events that it is running under its role as the Official Business Integration Partner for Expo 2020 Dubai, with other Global Business Forums turning the focus to the ASEAN region and Latin America.
