For decades the only news reported about Africa was bleak, creating a singular and distorted image of the continent. Terrorism, famine, political corruption, and the proliferation of AIDS and other diseases dominated US media, driving the perceptions of many Americans. Today, however, brighter and more varied narratives are changing those perceptions.

The fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, also called the consumer packaged goods (CPG) sector, is one of the largest industries worldwide. FMCGs are generally affordable products that have a short shelf life and are purchased by consumers on a regular, daily basis. Profit margins on these products are usually low for retailers, who successfully offset this by selling massive volumes.

Businessmen in the United Arab Emirates have been keeping a keen eye on Uganda's economic performance as the country continues to develop into a rapidly emerging market for consumer and capital goods from the Middle East. As the next century approaches there is a mood of optimism and a belief that Uganda will once again emerge as the 'Pearl of Africa' - the name given to it by the late Sir Winston Churchill in 1908. Traders and business people in the United Arab Emirates realise the great potential the country holds as an up-and-coming market and are now beginning to penetrate the Ugandan market in a big way. A large contingent of UAE companies will be participating in the forthcoming Uganda International Trade Fair which is being organised in Kampala. This trade fair is sure to provide a further boost in UAE-Uganda trade ties as it will provide UAE-based companies an opportunity to sell directly into the Ugandan market instead of routing their merchandise through Kenya. Dubai's re-exports to Uganda have more than doubled in the last 5 years due to increased trade between the two countries. As more and more Ugandans realise the benefits and convenience of doing business with Dubai, these figures are sure to rise in the coming years. Already Dubai has emerged as a favourite shopping destination for the people of Uganda. "The availability of quality goods at competitive prices is attracting a growing number of Ugandans to Dubai," says Zaake Wanume Kibedi, Ambassador of Uganda to the United Arab Emirates.

A new modern Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) network linking Uganda, Kenya, and South Sudan is set to radically transform trade and logistics amongst East African nations. The proposed mega-infrastructure rail link, forming part of the broader Northern Corridor Integration Projects, is aimed at drastically boosting trade ties in the Eastern African region. This railway link will be the first-ever stable, high-capacity link between landlocked South Sudan and its coastal neighbors, easing the delivery of essential services and heavy cargo across the vast region.

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...

A major problem for exporters to East African countries was the delays in clearing goods from the port of Mombasa, notorious for its inefficient clearing systems. However, time spent clearing goods from Mombasa to Kampala will be reduced ten-fold after the Uganda and Kenya revenue authorities launched a revolutionary data exchange computer system recently.

Uganda continues to solidify its position as a premier investment destination, consistently attracting some of the highest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in East Africa. Moving far beyond historical averages, Uganda now attracts well over $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion in FDI annually. This massive influx is largely driven by its stable and consistent macroeconomic policies, a highly liberalized business environment, its strategic geographic proximity as a logistics hub for the Great Lakes region, and rapidly expanding regional trade.

In spite of its small Muslim population, South Africa has emerged as one of the largest producers of halal products worldwide. This is largely due to its strategic access to the rest of the African continent and the presence of highly advanced halal certification programmes. Impressively, 60 per cent of all products in South Africa’s retailers are certified halal. Driven by rapid urbanization and expanding cold-chain capacity, South Africa aims to continuously scale its halal-certified exports and reinforce its position as the premier gateway to Africa’s halal food and beverage market.

Africa presents one of the fastest-developing markets in the world, and the demand for cosmetics, toiletries, and personal care products is growing at a frantic pace. Not only is there a huge pent-up demand for premium upmarket products from Europe and North America, but also for an expansive range of budget-friendly beauty products from manufacturers across the globe.

China and India’s newfound interest in trade and investment with Africa – home to 300 million of the globe’s poorest people and the world’s most formidable development challenge – presents a significant opportunity for growth and integration of the Sub-Saharan continent into the global economy. These two emerging economic “giants” of Asia are at the centre of the explosion of African-Asian trade and investment, a striking hallmark of the new trend in South-South commercial relations.

The positive business environment in Africa has already been noticed by the international community and investments into Africa have been flowing from various countries around the world. China, one of the fastest growing economies in the world, has already started making inroads into the African markets and established a special China-Africa Business Council recently.

A study conducted by Africa Business Pages across five key countries in the East Africa region (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Mozambique) revealed that consumers in East Africa are increasingly demanding premium personal care products that are tailor-made to suit their specific demographic needs and environmental requirements.