Networking events in Africa

As many of you know we are a firm specialising in assisting companies operating within the African continent. Many aspiring entries to this dynamic and fast growing market ask us about opportunities to network with African entrepreneurs and business people. We have therefore deemed it appropriate to list some of the years major networking events for the readers of this blog.

This list is in no way comprehensive and we will endeavour to keep it up to date with events, expo’s and conferences as we find out of them.

Jan 12-15 Medical Expo
www.medicalexpo-maroc.com

21 The Africa Cup of Nations
Gabon & Equatorial Guinea

Feb 6-9 Mining Indaba
www.miningindaba.com

7-8 Ghana Finance & Investment Conference
www.euromoneyconferences.com/ghana

20-23 Nigerial Oil & Gas
www.cwcnog.com

20-29 Urban Infrastructure & Real Estate Summit
www.ic-events.net/africa_urbaninfrastructure

March 27-28 Freight-Intra Africa Summit
www.fia-south.com

May 9-11 World Economic Forum on Africa
www.weforum.org

21-24 African Utility Week
www.african-utility-week.com

23-25 E-Learning Africa Conferenc
www.elearning-africa.com

June 20-22 Africa Round Table & Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility
www.ar-csr.com

Oct Poetry Africa
www.cca.ukzn.ac.za

Happiness and Joy over X-Mas time

I once heard a saying that happiness is not based in what you have but it is rather based in the satisfaction of what you have. It is not getting what you want, but rather wanting of you have got. This saying cannot ring more true this time of the year.

The silly season, a time for binge eating, over indulging and swiping the credit card with such vigour and lust that it nearly explodes in the face of the happy vendor who only got half the customers he expected. The business world shuts down, companies are hosting year end parties and staff that normally drive sober have become one eyed monsters seeking a white line on the ever so windy road home. But rather than gain the "lost" pounds, drinking more than you can chew or spending money that we never had and due to this season never will have, lets rather use this time to reflect.
Lets reflect on what is truly great in our lives, lets reflect on what is real and what is fake. Lets evaluate the true sources of our happiness. Lets value the little things we have and the true friends that we have made.

Lets develop true satisfaction in who we are and what we are rather than the artificial dreams of who we want to be. Men face the fact that you are not going to have an infamous affair with Britney Spears or Jessica Biel. Ladies, Matthew and Brad.... they are not going to knock on the door next week. But is that the thing that would make you happy? Is that i-pad (that you can’t afford) going to really give you the monstrous satisfaction you desire and seek so badly? Is the short term satisfaction at least equal to the financial hangover in January and the stroke like feeling you get upon receipt of your credit card bill?

No I think not. Happiness comes firstly from within. When we tend to forget that, it is the little things around us that remind us. Our, not as handsome when married and slightly potbellied husband, giving us a kiss on Christmas morning. Our little child, who’s school fees are again in arrears, smiling at that big dinner on table, which is not as big as you wanted it, and the silly little R49-00 plastic swimming pool that he/she swam in today. It is your wife that wakes up with no make-up next to you and that feeling of utter joy when you realise, after a couple of seconds, it is her and not Hannibal Lector.

Let’s face reality, life and business is filled by pigs, con artists and little XYZ’s thriving on the hurt, discomfort and destruction of others. We lose a little faith, money and honour every day thanks to such cancerous oxygen thieving idiots. So, let’s not focus on the losses, it is part of being an adult. Let’s focus on the true joy others bring to us and the real joy we can bring to others. It is truly better to give than to receive.

Have a blessed Christmas and may the new year be filled with so much prosperity that you complete the lotto numbers incorrectly on purpose.

John Fogwell & The Team

Where is a countries wealth?

In South Africa we are constantly battered with eloquent words of wisdom from our astounding politicians. In a country where 25% of the population is unemployed we are regularly bowled out by news of minister living in luxury hotels and recently R 180 Million again spent on our civil servants homes. Just as we thought that we got used to our governments impotency we see young scholars driven to death by blue light brigades, this blue light was not used to race to an emergency but rather a meeting for a VIP. Very Impotent Person.

Why then with such an impotent government are we as a citizenship then so surprised when Cosatu speaks of more aggressive reform and our ever-so-sophisticated friend Malema wanting to grab farms, mines and even the bottle store around the corner. Is this signs that the very voters for this government is losing faith in their leaders? Is this more radical, grabbing approach workable? Is this approach only viable as a short term erection for impotent government officials?

Categorically NO, it does not and will not work and yes, clearly our officials are in desperate need of something to rise in their favour, no matter how short term or even devastating. How can I be so confident that this grab-a-asset system will not work.

Simple let’s look at examples. In Uganda the leader, Idi Amin, chased many big businesses away and started or rather dismally failed in running them. In Zimbabwe the masterpiece of politics and intimidation, Robert Mugabe, took successful commercial farms and that now produce? Yes you are right, virtually nothing. In our own sunny South Africa there are virtually no success stories of commercial farms that was redistributed at huge burden to the tax payer. Why can successful business not just be transferred and run successfully? Why is it not as simple as just throwing all SA assets in one collective pot and then allowing every citizen a scoop of the pot?


Well putting corruption, nepotism and impotency aside. We are not all entrepreneurs and business tycoons. Some of us relish in a world where we can just wait for a pay cheque. In a seminar Warren Buffet was asked what investment would in any economy give you the best return, his answer: Education, in other words self investment, teaching yourself skills and bettering yourself. The wealty did not just fall on money, the big commercial farmers did not one day wake up to massive agricultural holdings. Surely no one believes the CEO's of our major mines just did a pretty waltz and got the job. No wealth is accumulated over time and there is a reason for it, you need to know how to handle and manage wealth, you need to have the knowledge, aptitude and ability to manage and grow wealth. Wealth, apart from some “tenderpreneurs”, does not just happen. As the saying goes: “A fool and his money will soon part”.

In essence one can argue that wealth does not vest in material things. It is seated in one’s ability to generate money and then manage the money that was generated. It therefore lies within the individual and not the assets of the individual.

So the big question still remains how to we aggressively transfer wealth in a country in desperate need of it. The only logical way in this simpletons mind is by generating more wealth. Develop patriotisms again amongst the wealthy, make SA citizens proud of the country they live and work in. Award tax incentives for development of communities and employing more people. Help the wealthy become wealthier and in turn the country and its economy will thrive.

I would like to leave you with one thought. The DRC made a special place for about 25 large commercial maize farmers from South Africa. In a short period of time, in a unknown country with limited support and structures, these farmers were able to turn the DRC from a net importer of maize into a net exporter of maize. Now imagine if the SA government awarded these same commercial farmers with the defunct land that is lying barren in our own borders and made them feel secure in their own country. That vast and fast economic growth would have been for our economy. Jobs would have been created and communities uplifted.

Africa - The land of milk and money

Many entrepreneurs approach our firm, a specialist firm on assisting entrepreneurs entering Africa, to assist them in obtaining their big dreams in Africa. They all have eagerly wagging tails and eyes that glow like a wild buck in a spotlight. However, sometimes we feel like the evil dream dashers when we find an opportunity of a lifetime to be nothing more than an opportunity to shorten your lifetime.


A key fact to remember is that large corporate companies are attacking Africa like wild dogs with rabies, they are setting up shops and offices quicker than what we can comprehend.Who can blame them? With Europe’s head in the toilet and the US avoiding the enema that has to come Africa with an Annual GDP per Capita rumoured to be higher than that of India and a fast emerging middle class in excess of 400 Million has opportunities a plenty for the astute business man. However gone are the days of buying a product at your local store and selling at twice the price in Africa, at least as a sustainable business.

Yes we have clients making so much money from their African operation that buckets are too small for them to use, they had to switch over to the proverbial shovel and wheelbarrow system. However many fail and do so on a spectacular scale. Why then? Ignorance, greed and unwillingness? People believe Africa’s citizenship to be uneducated idiots walking around with pockets full of cash and that Africa is a cheap market to do business in. The truth cannot be more removed from this piece of fiction. Africa’s people are becoming more and more sophisticated daily and flights, accommodation etc is everything but cheap. Africa wants products and services that add value to their businesses and lives at reasonable rates and there are opposition companies in virtually every African country you go to. Greed or quick buck syndrome is also a big business killer with many entrepreneurs entering the market thinking they can go into a country make a fortune and retire in short space of time by selling at ridiculously high margins or acquiring assets, like land, at cheap rates. No true cost of delivery, market study or cost of developing the asset is taken into consideration. In Mozambique farmers flocked to large tracks of land that was virtually free, but they never looked at the massive lack of resources, spares and so forth . Normal business logic still prevails you have to tackle the pain before you can gain anything in business. You need to develop a business plan and make sure your facts are correct. You must be willing to commit to the country you work in and be willing to spend a lot of ”school fees”, time and sweat in learning how to do business the African way.

Business opportunities in Africa are in abundance, solid business strategies will be rewarded, it is truly that land of milk and money. That said, milk can go sour quickly if not taken care of in the proper way and honey can be sticky even if held in vast amounts. When obtaining advise it tends to more prudent to ask what not to do in Africa than on what to do in Africa. Also choose your partners wisely before that glow in your eye is in fact the light held to you by a hunter.