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

Monday, November 12, 2018

In the world of smartphones, China has Huawei, Korea has Samsung, while the United States of America has Apple.

Long-time dark horse Africa is now taking centre stage with the announcement of the Mara phone project that is touted to take the smartphone business by storm.

Developed by Rwandan businessman and billionaire Ashish Thakkar, the Mara group at the Africa Investment Forum announced ambitious plans to develop manufacturing plants in Rwanda and in South Africa.

During South Africa’s recently held inaugural investment conference, Thakkar announced that his company would be investing R1.5 billion in a South African venture over the next five years.

Photo courtesy of John Hogg.