As the oil boom in West Africa swells, many international businesses are making a beeline for the West coast of Africa where many new business and investments opportunities are providing excellent return on investments as well as profitable trading opportunities. We bring you an analysis of the latest developments in the West African markets...

Ghana is making rapid strides as a new market for consumer goods in West Africa. Demand for consumer goods has been rising in Ghana at an average of 20 per cent since 2002.

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country with a population of 150 million. This makes one in every six Africans a Nigerian. It is also one of the largest oil producer on the continent creating huge inflows of foreign income.

Ghana has firmly established itself as a premier commercial hub and the gateway to West Africa. Recent progressive amendments to Ghana’s Investment Code have opened up a wide array of new business opportunities. The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Act guarantees the freedom for foreign investors to establish and run enterprises in highly lucrative sectors such as natural gas, renewable energy projects, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, and information technology.

In recent years, Ghana has emerged as a major importer of goods from Dubai. Having established itself as one of the prime business centres in the West African region, Ghana has earned the reputation of being the leading distribution hub of the region. Sustained economic reforms and a rapidly developing infrastructure have helped Ghana cement its status as a premier commercial gateway in West Africa.

Benin has rapidly emerged as a premier logistics and transit hub for goods destined across West Africa. The country's lucrative re-export trade model involves importing goods from global markets—especially from Asia and the Middle East—and officially re-exporting them to neighboring countries, most notably Nigeria. Benin’s status as a regional distribution powerhouse dates back to the late 1960s, but today's modern trade dynamics have drastically scaled the volume of traffic. A massive influx of textiles, vehicles, electronics, and agricultural products is currently routed through the Port of Cotonou to meet the surging consumer demand in Nigeria and landlocked nations.