DEPARTURES FLYING TO...
...North & West Africa
When early Victorians coined the phrase ‘The Dark Continent’ to describe Africa, they were referring to the unexplored hinterland of the vast region, writes Colin Ellson. Two centuries later, the term has lost its
currency in that sense, but in another it is apt. Parts of the continent remain ‘dark’ in their political and economic instability, internal chaos and lack of good governance. In a report at the beginning of this year, the
UK Defence Forum summed up the situation in West Africa thus: “The most recent upheavals in the region, including the wave of terrorist attacks in Nigeria, the military coup in Mali, and the turmoil in Cote d’Ivoire [Ivory Coast] in the past two years have focused attention on the fastest-developing regions of Africa.” North Africa is in similar disarray. As a result
of the Arab Spring in 2011, there have been calls for the introduction of democratic
governments across the region, with determined demonstrations toppling leaders and creating uncertainty about the future. If such scenarios seem a deterrent to UK plc seeking business opportunities in North and West Africa, think again. Both the UK Defence Forum and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) balance their realistic views of the situation in North and West Africa with optimistic assess- ments of the potential for British companies. “West Africa offers tremendous investment
and economic growth opportunities,” claims the Defence Forum. “There has been steady economic expansion across the region in the past decade. Ten years of economic and political reform has improved the livelihoods of Africans; the opportunities for business are immense,” it advises. For its part, UKTI highlights potential for business in a number of areas in both North and West Africa. It singles out Algeria,
where there will be significant government spending on the infrastructure over the next five years; a growing market in Egypt, with demand in a wide range of sectors; and Ghana, which among other requirements is looking for technical assistance in the implementation of its decentralisation policy. Also worthy of attention, adds UKTI, are Morocco, Nigeria, Sudan and Tunisia. Exploring the potential of the countries
scattered across the two regions will not always be a doddle. There are direct flights to most from the UK, but none to destinations such as Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Sudan. This means getting there via a European or Gulf hub airport – necessary if your company wishes to shed light on the business potential in the North and West of The Dark Continent. As always, we recommend you check FCO advice before making travel plans.
70 THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE
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SXC.HU HANS WIDMER
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