ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on doing business in Africa, specifically sub-Saharan Africa. France’s special relationship with Africa is based on two pillars: the projection of France overseas and neocolonialism. Britain’s relationship with independent African states dates back to the colonial era, when the UK imposed its rule on much of sub-Saharan Africa, and on a majority of Africans. Africa is experiencing a rapid growth in population and a rising middle class with increasing spending power. Tanzania’s economic growth and prospects are raising the country’s profile in Africa and in the world in general. Sub-Saharan Africa’s population alone is expected to grow explosively to 2 billion strong by 2050. On the whole, business in sub-Saharan Africa is reasonably straightforward. There are three main business languages: English, French and Portuguese, reflecting the continent’s past colonial history. Natural resources provide an advantage to the economy, and allow well-managed economies to grow at an exponential rate.
