Buoyant outlook for Africa

The outlook for 2012 is
extremely positive for the
African continent, according
to Warren Erfmann of Swift
Freight.
“Africa is the future as it
is extremely rich in resources
and therefore opportunities,”
he told FTW. “We just need
to be careful how we ‘mine’
these opportunities as it is
important that Africa develops
as a continent and is not just
pilfered by companies and
people wanting to make a
quick buck at the expense of
everything and anything.”
Having seen 15 consecutive
years of economic growth,
with GDP growth averaging
around 5.2% while the rest
of the world averaged just
under 4%, the outlook can be
nothing but positive.
“Africa has 95% of the
world’s platinum group
metals, 90% of the world’s
chromite ore, 85% of
phosphate rock, 40% of
bauxite reserves, 10% of the
world’s crude oil and 8% of
natural gas reserves – it can
only be positive as we move
forward.”
According to Erfmann
the development of Africa is
strongly reliant on education
and not just infrastructure.
“If one has an educated
continent, the rest will follow,”
he said.
With Swift Freight actively
involved in the mining
sector, Erfmann said they
were looking at growing the
business in new territories
in the coming months in
efforts to build a sustainably
profitable global company.