Bank’s advisory service provides link to local contacts

In 2009 the Harvard Business
Review declared that it was a
good time to invest in Africa.
And bankers agree.
According to Nedbank’s Paul
Burket, Africa showed surprising
resilience during the 2009
financial crisis with a growth
slowdown that was less striking
than many other emerging
markets and significantly less
dramatic than the outright
declines of developed markets.
“Africa is well positioned
to grow and to yield positive
returns, while the impressive
growth is also directly related to
the increased political stability on
the continent.”
Considered to be one of the
biggest emerging markets, many
businesses are expanding on the
continent. Burket says a well
planned and executed strategy is
crucial for success.
“Being introduced to the right
people and working with trusted
partners is just as important.”
And according to Burket,
LocalKnowledgeAfrica was
formed for this precise purpose.
“This is a strategic advisory
service of the Ecobank Nedbank
Alliance that supports companies
by giving them access to local
contacts with an extensive
knowledge of African countries.
The Alliance’s footprint enables
it to support client expansion
across the 35 African countries
in which it has a presence and
ensures that these clients have an
intrinsic understanding of these
markets to ensure that they can
compete effectively with local
businesses.”
He says these solutions are
based on an understanding of the
important role that relationships
play in African business, and
an ability to enable clients to
access and build these critical
relationships with their clients,
local government, and regulators.