Africa’s chief attraction is that it has been growing while richer regions have stalled (see chart 1). Its demographic prospects are promising, too. As America, Europe and China age, Africa can expect a bulge of workers in their productive prime. Though skills are in short supply, they are becoming more abundant. According to the McKinsey Global Institute, the consulting firm’s research unit, in 2002 only 32% of Africans had secondary or tertiary education, but by 2020, 48% will have. The continent can call on degree-laden expatriates such as Mr Ndiaye and Uyi Stewart, the Nigerian chief scientist of IBM’s Nairobi lab. Article
Category Archives: Entrepreneurs
Carly Fiorina’s One Woman Initiative
Carly Fiorina discusses giving a leg up to women. Video
Melanie Dressel: Street Banker
Women the world over are starting up businesses, but for the small or medium sized entrepreneur, raising money is difficult. Here is where the smaller banks come into play. Melanie Dressel Interview courtesy Seattle Business Magazine
Empowering Ladies in India
FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO), Coimbatore Chapter, supported by Women Business Entrepreneurs Development Association (WOBEDA) conducted a 15-day course for women wanting to start a business. From identifying a viable project, to executing it and sustaining it, 18 women were introduced to the nuts and bolts of start ups. “It is an attempt to empower women, especially those from middle and lower income groups, and help them turn entrepreneurs,” said President FLO, Lakshmi Ramachandran. She said that this was the first time in 20 years of FLO in Coimbatore that they had conducted such a course. They plan to make it a yearly affair. Article
Women-Owned Businesses in Pittsburgh
From a brewery to a car wash, women like start ups and feature down to earth financial planning with special attention to the well-being of their employees. Article
Bangladesh: The Impact of Women’s Rule
The first thing to say is that Bangladesh has an energy problem the scale of which tends to be, like the country as a whole, hugely underreported. According to the World Bank, there is no country where businesses find it more difficult to get electricity than Bangladesh. In its latest “Doing Business Survey”, the bank ranks Bangladesh an unflattering 185 out of 185 in this category. More than 60% of people do not have access to electricity. Article
The Dangers in Doing Business in China
Caterpillar has just written off $580 million after acquisition of Chinese company turns sour. In a statement, Caterpillar said an ongoing investigation launched after the deal closed “determined several Siwei senior managers engaged in deliberate misconduct beginning several years prior to Caterpillar’s acquisition of Siwei.” Philip Anshutz, the mega US billionaire, has pulled out of ownership of stadiums in China because he could not get his profits out of the country. Buyers beware. Article
Women Entrepreneurs to Watch
Entrepreneur Magazine introduces women to watch: Read about them.
Myanmar Fertile Ground for Entrepreneurs
Myanmar as good place for entrepreneurs, the Financial Times reports today. Alisher Ali, founder of Silk Road Finance, which recently launched a $25m capital fund, is focusing on knowledge intensive industries which hardl yexist now. But Ali likes the quality of the young entrepreneurs. A terrific organization of Myanmar women entrepreneurs is not mentioned. Have a look. Here.
Can Women in Finance Make a Difference on Social Issues?
At a meeting of European Women’s Management Development, speaks called for more women in more positions of importance in world finance. Their mission: transparency and to bridge the gap between poor and rich. Susanne Meier article