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Why aren’t Africans jumping at the chance to invest their money into American, high yield development projects? Foreign direct investment has long been considered a viable base for investment portfolios of successful business people from all over the world – but it seems the trend hasn’t made it to Africa, or has it? The trend of African investors sinking money into neighboring countries within the African continent has grown to possess a deeper meaning than strategically reaping returns. In most recent efforts African investors have devoted themselves and their money to future generations, financing micro-loan programs and small business incubators. (See trend recent reports); their goal – to nurture a budding society of educated entrepreneurial citizens and maintain a strong ownership of their maturing economic systems. The term ‘African Dream’ identifies the ability to attain a comfortable lifestyle despite historical circumstance has been used by major news sources, i.e. This Day and CNN:Africa, in connection with business persons and large organizations devoted to investing time and money to building African infrastructure. The African Dream focuses on increasing world-class standing, offering economic exchanges globally, hosting mutually beneficial interactions and growing social and cultural involvement based on increased opportunities for Africans to gain education and business ownership. And opportunities are boundless, from investing in oil and real estate to launching start-up tech brands in the capital cities of Nigeria, Gabon and Ghana – the African continent’s global transition from third world to world class has been very lucrative. Nevertheless, local investors must battle with international consumers who may have access to more capital, more experience with identifying viability, and other factors that make withholding ownership of opportunities and growth hard. |
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For example, Africa-China relations has grown exponentially since the early industrial era – China has viewed African emerging and fast-growing markets as profitable outlets and have even proposed building large-scale structural projects in countries rich in natural resources, i.e. Nigeria, Sudan, Angola and South Africa. China has funded the construction of roads and railroads, dams, ports and airports in these countries. However, critics argue that Chinese business practices, which stem mainly from diplomatic agreements, have impeded aspects of African development. What can African investors learn from China’s approach to broadening relationships by way of economic diplomacy? While there are countless community members that will directly benefit with the introduction of new locally owned businesses in their area what of the entirety of African nations that will require new pools of potential leaders in the coming years. Re-enter the notion of foreign direct investment and how new options within the U.S. can assist in preparing Africa’s’ next generation of globally recognized leadership. The U.S. Federal Government launched its EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program in 1992. Since then thousands of immigrant investors have taken advantage of the programs’ benefits – which include in-state college tuition and the ability to live anywhere within the continental United States. This direct access to a less stressful way of life may just be the perfect solution for Africa’s’ need to provide future leaders with a mix of access to world class education for its loyal future leaders and influence in the infrastructure of larger nations, i.e. United States of America. The U.S. and African industrial chains and economies can be complementary; while the United States cannot provide Africa with low-cost industrial products, like the continents’ Chinese partners, the U.S. offers a “no language barrier” benefit that gives African future leaders options that speed up processes in gaining an education, building relationships, and What options do African countries have to do to ensure the growth and ownership of their infrastructure? For more information on the U.S. EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program visit iiusa.gov – to participate in the upcoming EB-5 Africa Webinar please sign up for an exclusive invite:CLICK HERE |
