This video explores the physical and socio-economic development of investing in Africa in order to improve the lives of Africans.
It explores ways (some tried and tested) that can propel African governments and citizens to achieve the optimum development of our beloved continent of Africa.
At the end of the commentary, we will give you more information about NPL Advisors and how we are working hard toward investing in Africa and contributing to Africa’s development.
A Public-Private Partnership is a partnership between a government agency and the private sector in order to deliver goods or services to the public. African governments and project sponsors need to be competitive in the global markets in order to attract public-private investment opportunities and capital. It is also the responsibility of African governments to help create a good quality of life for all citizens and to facilitate business friendly environments.
In the last four years, NPL Advisors has been working hard to engage public and private clients with regards to the development of much needed infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa. Our work and clients are important to the continent. The investment sectors that we focus on are: Agribusiness (processing); Real Estate (residential & commercial); Infrastructure (transportation, ports, aviation, railways); Power (including renewable energy); Oil & Gas; Mining; Technology (telecoms and fintech) and Financial Institutions (banks & insurance companies).
We are delighted with the amount of clients and projects in our books. The companies that we are working with have high impact and bankable projects that require public and private investment. For the project originators, the funds raised will assist them in delivering their visions and goals. For the investor, the yields generated and returns on investment can be great. Public-Private Partnerships can also address the infrastructure and economic deficit in the continent by building better, stronger and greener infrastructure.
A major move by African governments to promote intra-African trade is the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This agreement was created by African Union nations. It requires members to remove tariffs from 90% of goods, allowing free access to commodities, goods and services across the continent. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa estimates that the agreement will boost intra-African trade by 52% by 2022.
The world is now a global village linked by telecommunications and technology. The public-private partnership between governments and pharmaceutical companies and the developments in technology led to the speedy discovery of the COVID-19 vaccine which should now circumvent the virus. Life is going on, international trade has continued and each day, we learn new ways of living and working.
We at NPL Advisors will continue to work hard for the realisation of our clients’ projects and the economic expansion of sub-Saharan Africa. NPL Advisors have very experienced and seasoned advisors including Lawyers, Investment Bankers, Infrastructure, Energy and Technology Experts. We can structure, arrange deals and do the due diligence for the effective realization of projects. We are currently and actively looking for public and private investors to invest into scalable projects through debt, equity and mezzanine financing.
Are you a government agency, institutional or private investor looking for high impact and bankable projects to invest into in sub-Saharan Africa or are you a company or institution based in sub-Saharan Africa looking for inward investment? Please contact us on email: anwokedi@npladvisors.com and mobile: +44 (0) 7754 433 482. We are happy and ready to assist you.
In the meantime, keep and stay safe.
We at NPL Advisors would like to sympathise with everyone who has been impacted by the coronavirus. We hope that a vaccine will soon be available and normality will return. The pandemic has led to the government and many businesses taking measures such as requiring that numerous employers and employees work from home. This has initially led to some confusion especially for people who are not used to working from home.
There is constantly bad news in the media about coronavirus. However the good and positive news is that our developed and modern technology can play its saving role by keeping us all connected whilst working from home. There has been tremendous technological advancements in personal computers, tablets, mobile phones, television, radio and the internet.
During this time, we at NPL Advisors have been working from home. We have the necessary equipment needed to do this such as our laptops, tablets and mobile phones. We communicate regularly with co-workers and clients via emails, phone calls and texts. Then once a week, we hold a comprehensive directors meeting via a conference call.
Whilst working from home, you should take care of your health and safety. It is important to take regular breaks instead of sitting at a computer for a long time. After your working hours has been decided, you should do other things outside of these hours. Things like cooking, exercise, watching television and doing other things you enjoy.
Employees working from home and who have children to care for should agree a more flexible home working timetable with their employers. At NPL, we have established an excellent work from home routine. Each director and consultant knows their roles in the business and work together to assist our clients to achieve their goals. This we do despite of the coronavirus. If we venture outside, we wear our mask and observe social distancing. We hope that soon we will be free from the pandemic and all its restrictions. In the meantime, we at NPL Advisors wish you well and that you stay well.
Having discussed the possibility of the repositioning of American political thinking and touched upon one of the common elements linking the members that have thus far been appointed by President Elect Trump into his cabinet, are we any the wiser as to what strategy the incoming Republican administration could conceivably adopt in relation to the U.S.-Nigeria Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA)? Can the President Elect’s statement that “[he is] going to rip up those trade deals and we’re going to make really good ones” literally be taken at face value? It is my contention in this final part of the series that the quote should in fact be seen as an unexpected opportunity for both parties to actually strengthen the existing TIFA. The meaning and practical ways of strengthening this bi-lateral trade agreement will be expounded below.
As matters currently stand TIFA establishes a framework for expanding trade and resolving outstanding disputes between the US and Nigeria. It is seen as an important pre-requisite step towards establishing Free Trade Agreements between the two sovereign states. This usually takes the form of investing and trading, by way of export and import of goods and services, into each other’s financial and commodities markets. Thus in March 2014 the U.S. hosted the eighth meeting of TIFA where discussions focused on (i) improving market access, (ii) utilization of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), (iii) protection of intellectual property rights, (iv) implementation of the new WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, and (v) improving the bilateral investment climate.
Given Nigeria’s preeminent position as the largest market in West Africa and one of the largest economies in Africa, one would expect that this was a regional power house that the U.S. should not ignore and could benefit significantly from. In fact total U.S.-Nigeria trade (exports plus imports) was valued at $18.2 billion in 2013. U.S. imports from Nigeria were valued at $11.7 billion, $11.6 billion of which was crude oil. Non-oil Nigerian exports to the U.S. under the African Growth Opportunity Act which had been introduced by President Bill Clinton include leather, prepared vegetables, beans, cocoa paste, spices, and cassava. Conversely, U.S. exports to Nigeria were valued at $6.5 billion in 2013. Major U.S. exports to Nigeria include mineral fuels, vehicles, wheat, machinery, and plastics. The stock of U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in Nigeria was $8.1 billion in 2012 (latest data available), up 53.6% from 2011.
It is a truism that TIFA plays a vital role in advancing the common trade and investment interests of the U.S. and Nigeria and in strengthening the overall U.S.-Nigeria relationship.
In the light of the above what further practical steps can realistically be taken in order to deepen this potentially mutually beneficial trade framework?
Firstly, a more cordial and inclusive rhetoric, at the very top (i.e. governmental level) should not be underestimated. This would go a long way towards creating an environment of goodwill and mutual respect in order for serious and meaningful bi-lateral talk and negotiations to take place.
Secondly, the opportunities for blue and white collar workers, farmers, businesses and consumers in both countries should be addressed as a matter of priority. Given the ever increasing Chinese strategic interest and influence in all sectors and industry in sub Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, as a source of boosting its domestic markets, it would be a missed opportunity for the U.S. not to use TIFA as a forum for striking similar/favourable commercial terms as the Chinese have done and continue to do. The U.S. could, by way of example, leverage its technical know-how in a range of sectors such as high tech services and renewable energy in exchange for raw materials and commodities such as oil and gas.
Thirdly, from a U.S. perspective a strong TIFA would give the U.S. a degree of influence in not only the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) but also the African Union (AU). Whereas the Chinese have and continue to deepen their relationship with both ECOWAS and AU (and this for the sake of ensuring that their interest in commodities, forestry, land etc. is protected at a regional and continental level) the U.S. would seem to adopt a less strategic and tactical approach.
It is hoped that President Elect Trump’s administration does not embark on or adopt a policy of ‘benign neglect’ in so far as TIFA is concerned.
The tectonic shift in US political and ideological thinking appears to gain more ‘clarity’ this week by President Elect Trump’s recent appointments to his cabinet. The minimum entry qualification/requirement would seem to be that an individual is required to have or enjoy a minimum net worth of millions of US dollars, or ideally, billions of US dollars in net assets.
These are the handpicked men and women whom President Elect Trump believes would not only best serve the interests of the common American family trying their best to make ends meet by having to, in some instances, feed their families by regular visits to food banks, but, from our perspective, that would really understand, appreciate the nuances and continue the U.S.-Nigeria Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) in an empathetic and understanding manner; all of course being conducted in an atmosphere of mutual respect, dignity, cross-fertilisation of ideas and interests for the common good of the peoples of both sovereign states.
With one business day to go before formally launching NPL Advisors, I must confess to being excited at the prospect of offering the tailor made service I have always believed that both project sponsors in my home Continent and international investors into Africa rightly deserve and need. Here’s hoping that it all goes well for all parties.
