A Guide to Trading in Africa
"Going the EXTRA
mile" is
written to guide companies, SMMEs' and individuals
who wish
to
glean
the inside facts and finer details of how to export
to any African country. It's a practical hands-on
account, easy to understand and has many reference
points giving
real examples which would apply to prospective exporters,
manufacturers, distributors, traders and agents. This book shows the reader how to get the job done,
as opposed to being told how to do it. |
This book has been written to offer the
same trading facilities to international countries
that may want to trade in Africa for the first time.
It offers investment opportunities plus other aspects
of creating 'business readiness' for one's company.
Opportunities Abound - An African Trading
Guide
Foreword by Denis Beckett
For the second time in four years, Luyton spells
out the whats, the wheres and most importantly the
hows of doing business in Africa and most particularly
tropical or "African" Africa. In 2005 Luyton
came at it as a young man who had found
rewards, both financial and personal, in his own
business travels through Africa and took the trouble
to put his experiences into writing. For his second
edition in 2009 he is virtually the doyen of the
industry, the central authority on his subject.
Which tells two tales. One is of congratulation
to Luyton, for sticking to his enthusiasms, broadening
his vistas, deepening his knowledge, sharpening
his commentary. The other is a tale of surprise
that the field has been left so empty, for him
to re-visit uncluttered. No-one is in doubt that
there are special challenges in doing business
in Africa. Luyton spells these out very clearly.
No-one doubts, either, that "challenge" is
really no more than today's optimism-tinged buzzword
for "problem". But challenges are meetable,
problems are solvable. South African businesspersons,
on the whole, take challenges in their stride;
handle problems undaunted. Until it comes to "Africa".
Despite several conspicuous exceptions, there remains
a general spirit of no-no about "getting into
Africa". People wilt a bit. They tell themselves
it's risky, it's tricky, they don't know the ground-rules.
From Luyton's point that means a terrific opening
to spell out more ground-rules more fully. From
the broader perspective, further to the rear, that
sees much promise in the EUing of Africa's commercial
capacity, we ask our business community, politely,
to catch on.
We ask it very politely. We who observe and opine
are extremely respectful of our peers who do. We
know that little is hollower than the sound of
those who are not doing a certain thing informing
those who are doing that thing how to do it better.
So we talk with deference. Which does not mean
we have nothing to say. We know that more inter-African
business, conducted honourably and ethically, will
be good for all of us. We are right to make that
point. We are right to seek a generalised upgrading
of our involvement in the developing of our neighbourhood.
We would not be right to pronounce which particular
organisation should be involved in which way in
which place.
That's why we're grateful for the Luytons of the
world, making the unfamiliar look familiar, making
the faraway feel accessible, giving their fellow
businesspersons an invitation, with relevant information
around it.
I look forward to a third edition not too far ahead.
I hope that when that edition comes it will be
in a context not of "come on chaps, let's
test the water, remember to behave nicely",
but a context of "right, now that it's standard
practice to dive in, let's build even further on
what we know." |
