Industry

Being better integrated than many African markets into global trade flows has brought opportunities and challenges for Kenya. As it looks to increase regional integration through the East African Community (EAC) in the hope of expanding opportunities for exporters, the country has to balance this against a sometimes competing priority of boosting trade with the EU....

A rarity for many African markets, home-grown businesses form a significant proportion of Kenya’s modern retail sector. With consumption levels rising, a number of outlets are using growth in the domestic market as a platform for regional expansion. Competition is tight and the informal market continues to play a big role, but the sector is dynamic.

With a history that stretches back to the days of independence when Valco Aluminium – at the time Africa’s largest smelter – Ghana’s metals industry has faced significant challenges recently, although it has benefitted from growth the rest of the country is enjoying. Reliant in past years on domestic demand from the extractive sectors, the bulk of the momentum has more...

In spite of its role as one of Africa’s fastest growing economies, Ghana has yet to fully transition its agriculture and resource commodities base into a vibrant and diversified industrial sector. More than 80% of exports are presently made up of gold, oil and cocoa in raw form, pointing to both an opportunity and a need to undertake more processing domestically....

Long dominated by traditional and largely informal markets, Ghana’s retail landscape is undergoing significant change. As with many African frontier markets, formal retailing is beginning to capture a greater share of spend as an expanding middle class increases consumption and becomes more demanding in terms of convenience and variety. The Ghanaian market, according to...