NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Investors Missing Africa’s Telecoms Boat

Despite phenomenal growth in the cellphone industry, sub-Saharan Africa still accounts for just 1% of global telecoms investments. Of $220bn invested in telecoms in 2003, under $3bn was in Africa. The sector has high growth potential, as the majority of Africans still have no access to telecommunications. For investors who know how to assess the risks and rewards, the potential rewards are matched only by diamonds and other mineral resources, Marcelle says. ...

Source

Business Day (Johannesburg), Lesley Stones (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

HCL’s low-cost PC to revitalize distribution strategy

HCL plans to market its new low-cost PC by partnering with major web portals for a piece of the fortune at the bottom of the pyramid. After having launched its low-cost PC in the Indian market, HCL is looking forward to injecting new vigor to its existing distribution strategy to tap the huge market potential in the Indian region. With an aim to increase its distribution footprint in the country, the company is all set to work on a two-pronged strategy. As part of ...

Source

DQ Channels (link opens in a new window)

Region

South Asia

’Missing market’ a target for rural growth

THE UN Commission Report Unleashing Entrepreneurship: Making Business Work for the Poor is a critical first step in identifying the important role that the private sector must play to ensure that business will work for the poor, Foreign Affairs ministry chief executive Isikeli Mataitoga says. He made the remarks when he launched a Pacific workshop to discuss the report in Suva yesterday. The Report suggests ways for developing and developed countries to develop partnership throug...

Source

Fiji Times Online (link opens in a new window)

Region

Asia Pacific

Local female microentrepreneur off to USA

Bangladeshi microentrepreneur Shamima Khatun (26) left for New York Sunday to attend the closing ceremony of the International Year of Microcredit as a guest of honor. Shamima is one of the four winners of the Global Microentrepreneurship Awards (GMA), organised by the Citigroup Foundation (the philanthropic arm of Citigroup) and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). She has been selected as the winner of the Most Innovative Business of the Year ...

Source

Financial Express (link opens in a new window)

Minister Blames Banks over Poverty in Africa

The failure by commercial banks to lend to small and medium-sized businesses in Africa is to blame for rampant poverty on the continent, a Cabinet minister said yesterday. Planning minister Anyang’ Nyong’o hit out at the banks for making return on investment difficult by charging high interest rates on loans. Oracle Business Intelligence The banks rarely touch African businesses and when they do they charge interest rates that make it impossible for ent...

Source

The East African Standard (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

An interview with Ricci Wolman of the Global Fairness Initiative

Where did you spend your Social Enterprise Summer? I spent my summer working in Washington, DC for The Global Fairness Initiative (GFI). GFI is a an international NGO of global leaders dedicated to promoting innovative, scalable models that extend the benefits of globalization to poor communities around the world. What project(s) did you work on, and what were your primary responsibilities? My primary project was the creation of the Synapse Market Access Fund. ...

Source

The Harbus Online (link opens in a new window)

CK Prahalad Shares Wisdom

What could draw nearly 300 students out given the dismal, rainy weather on Monday afternoon? It is all in a name: CK Prahalad. A University of Michigan professor, renowned corporate strategist, and internationally best-selling author of The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid, Prahalad spoke at the fourth annual Joel and Lois Coleman Social Impact Lecture, sponsored in conjunction with the Legal Studies department and the Wharton Ethics program. Through the generosity of Mr. Coleman, a Wharton...

Source

Wharton Journal (link opens in a new window)

Access 1513 Internet Prepaid Card Launched

In an effort to help Ghana ’leap-frog’ into the information society proper, Global Access Services Limited in collaboration with Netafrique Dot Com, an Internet Service Provider (ISP) have introduced an Internet prepaid card into the Ghanaian market. Called Access 1513 Internet prepaid card, the card can be used by anyone who has access to a computer with a dial up modem and a Ghana Telecom (GT) telephone line. The card comes with a username, a password and a GT digital telep...

Source

Ghanaian Chronicle (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa