Opportunité Africa

Turning Solar Panel Waste challenges into Opportunities

Solar energy is experiencing meteoric growth, notably in developing economies in hotter, sunnier parts of the world. The African Solar Industry Association (“AFCIA”), for example, has identified more than 7,600 solar projects in various stages of development, with more than a thousand currently operational. But the rapid adoption of solar power to meet electricity demands is also giving rise to significant challenges when it comes to waste…

How to kick-start the manufacturing sector in Africa

Generally, the manufacturing sector in Africa is weak – only a few countries have a solid manufacturing ecosystem. However, there’s a growing interest by governments to set up manufacturing locally, particularly after the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area. The agreement allows companies with better industrial development to obtain raw materials from neighbouring countries: Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal, for example, can support interior countries like Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.  Saikat Chowdhury [https://www.linkedin.com/in/saikat-chowdhury-17282a12/?originalSubdomain=sg], the Managing Director of NivéSal [https://nivesal.com/] – a Singapore-based firm involved in project engineering solutions for developing countries, discusses how African countries can kick-start manufacturing locally to drive investment.

How the accession to the Patent Cooperation Treaty will further position Mauritius as a gateway to Africa

The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) is an international agreement that allows inventors and applicants  to gain patent protection in all of its contracting jurisdictions. Mauritius recently entered into the treaty, which will bring a new dimension to the merchant intellectual property industry and allow companies to centralise and control their patents from the island nation.

What to consider when structuring an African Investment Fund

Investing in Africa has changed radically over the last decade. The boom period might be over but there are still opportunities if you know where to look – and if you have the right advice about setting up the best possible structure for your investment fund.  Patrick Colegrave is our guest on the latest Opportunite Africa podcast. He’s an expert in international corporate legal affairs at Forbes Hare and he splits his time between Singapore and his home country of Zimbabwe.

Why the time is right for Korea to increase trade with Africa

In the latest Opportunité Africa [https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/opportunit%C3%A9-africa/id1598495913] podcast, Brendon Jones speaks to Seoul-based attorney Tim Dickens, a partner at DR & AJU International Law Group and the chairman of the South African Chamber of Commerce in Korea. Tim unpacks Korea’s historical hesitancy to invest in Africa and explains why the time is right to change that.