In recent years this has become even more evident with statistics reflecting that Foreign Direct Investment into the continent rose from $2.4 billion in 1985 to over $100 billion in 2008. Furthermore, since 1989 Africa’s five stock exchanges have increased to over 20, and have been rated amongst the best performing in the world. Multinational companies are scoping for new ground where they can bring innovation and their expertise to establish or expand their business, Africa is becoming the place to be in business. All of this is to the continent’s advantage by helping to develop under-resourced industries such as information technology and infrastructure, thus widening Africa’s doors to trade locally and abroad.
About the NBF
The NEPAD Business Foundation (NBF) views business in Africa as a fundamental building block for positioning the continent as a key role player for international trade and investment. However this can only be pursued in a sustainable manner with the help of clear focus. To facilitate this, the NBF provides a network for its members to discuss, debate, share ideas and collaborate with government and other stakeholders. The NBF has evolved from the original structure of being the NEPAD BUSINESS GROUP (NBG) which was formed at the request of the South African Presidency in June 2002. As support for NEPAD grew over the years, the NBG realised that a separate structure was needed where South African businesses could contribute to fulfilling the NEPAD objectives. The NEPAD Business Foundation was established in 2005 as a fully operational not-for-profit company with a head office in Sandton, Johannesburg.
What we believe
The NBF is a membershipbased organisation that believes in opening dialogue between the public and private sector to transform projects into sustainable enterprises. The NBF believes this can be achieved by enabling, facilitating and encouraging its member enterprises to undertake their operations in a manner that is aligned to the NEPAD’s strategic focus of raising Africa’s business competitiveness, increasing investment and contributing to the social development goals as a responsible corporate citizen.
What we do
As a member-based organisation the NBF ensures that dialogue between its members and relevant parties remains constant for African issues relating to new developments, and knowledge and ideas – sharing. Through these, the NBF would like to see projects come to long-term and profitable fruition. In developing an enabling environment for profitable and sustainable trade on the African continent, the NBF promotes best practice in business. It initiates this through human capital development, by keeping abreast of the latest industry developments that its members can participate or contribute to, and by partnering with organisations with a common objective. In addition to these, the NBF arranges regular networking events, conferences and trade missions where members have the opportunity to gain insight from each other