In the current context of globalization, characterized by accelerated changes and uncertainties, corporations should expand in growing markets to stay competitive.

Most of the top 10 fastest-growing countries are in Africa

Of the world’s fastest growing markets for 2011-2015, 7 out of 10 are estimated to be in Africa (Ethiopia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Congo, Ghana, Zambia, and Nigeria). For 2001-2010, 6 out of 10 of the fastest growing markets were already in Africa (Angola, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Chad, Mozambique, and Rwanda) (Source: International Monetary Fund, 2011).

Africa: A fast-growing market for business expansions and investments

Africa is "home to many of the world's biggest opportunities" (Harvard Business Review, p. 118, May 2011), and "one of the world’s fastest-growing regions" (The Economist, par. 1, January 2011), which is "rising rapidly up the agenda for global investment managers"  (The Financial Times, par.3, May 18, 2011), offering" a higher return on investment than any other emerging market" (UN data as quoted in HBR, p. 118, May 2011).

The potential of Africa for 2020 to 2050 (McKinsey Global Institute)

The McKinsey Global Institute estimate for 2020 a collective Africa Gross Domestic Product of 2.3 trillion, 1.4 trillion in African customer spending, 128 million the number of African households with discretionary income, 50 % of African living in the cities in 2030 and 1.4 billion the number of African at the working age in 2040 (McKinsey Global Institute, 2010).