In this issue

It is a now a widely acknowledged fact that the world’s ten youngest nations by population are mainly in Africa. One can thus envisage the beaming future that lies ahead for this continent! The young brains are drivers of a nation, and have the potential and ambition to take the economy from the fringes to the forefront. And this juggernaut is practically emerging as the next big thing by giving wings to its dreams in the form of Start-ups.
Thomas Edison, co-founder of General Electric, once said, “The value of an idea lies in using it.” Sometimes, the right path is not the easiest. Similarly, a goal without a plan is just a wish. Our cover story in the May 2017 edition, ‘Start-ups: growth stimulating key elements,’ aptly sums up this sentiment that authentic, tangible notions, catering to what people need and what has not been done, when aligned with passion and perseverance, can prove to be a game-changer in the conventional way of doing business.
As they say, novel ideas can turn rags into riches and also ducklings into swans; the editor’s perspective captivates the inspiring story of the expedition ‘From Maggots to Millions’, while our post-analysis features elaborate developments on ‘India-Ethiopia: the journey so far and the way forward’, how Mali and India are ‘Inking progress: in letter and in spirit,’ and ‘Why do we still need an International Women’s Day?’
With ‘Senegal re-launching its air transport’, we bring exclusive developments from the African continent, including excerpts of a rendezvous with the President of the African Development Bank, and also the countries that are oiling the wheels of Africa’s growth engines.

Transform Africa Making Africa Smart

Africa is a continent on the rise. Imagine an integrated continent, an integrated market, and an integrated consumer base of 1 billion people including over 350 million students. As such, Africa offers today the highest return on investment. It is the continent with the highest potential for investment in the world ever.

4 mins

Furniture - A Growth Oriented Industry

Africa constitutes 16.36% of the total world population and contributes 3% to the world Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Africa is a huge pool of population, which is projected to expand and grow rapidly. By 2050, 2.4 billion more people are expected on the planet out of which 1.3 billion are expected to be born in Africa. The majority of the world’s population growth is expected to take place in Africa. It is said that where there is population, there are enormous opportunities. Business opportunities is one the aspect of this broad spectrum of opportunities.

4 mins

E-commerce, a Globe Cracking Revolution

E-commerce has showcased vast growth in the last few years. Sources forecast that retail e-commerce sales across the globe would grow from 7.4% in 2015 to 12.8% in the year 2019. Its vast reach being primarily the reason behind its wide popularity and success, along with other reasons such as leverage to shop anywhere at any-time, availability of wide variety of options, product comparison and reviews. From the business viewpoint, e-commerce is much more cost effective as compared to traditional commerce method.

4 mins

Journey From Maggots to Millions

Did you ever imagine that maggots, a word which makes you feel like throwing up would make fortune worth millions? The truth however, is a hard pill to swallow. The Agriprotein business is making some big money, while putting in efforts to cope up with a drastic climatic threat. This initiative might transform the traditional animal feed industry permanently.

5 mins

Inking Progress in Letter and in Spirit

It was in October 2015 that the President of the Republic of Mali, His Excellency Mr. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, accompanied by a high-level delegation, including several ministers and high-level officials, attended the third India-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi.

3 mins

AFDB - Investing Big in the 'High 5s'

Consider this - between 2012-14, about four million Africans benefitted from new or improved access to water and sanitation, 11 million Africans were provided with new electricity connections, about ten million Africans reaped benefits from improvements in agriculture, and about 49 million and 19 million Africans benefitted from better health services and improved transportation respectively.

5 mins

Malawi - On the Verge of Education Amelioration

Interview with H.E Mr. Fabiano Emmanuel, Minister of Education, Science & Technology, Malawi.

4 mins

My Perspective on Indo-Africa Move

A centuries-old link defines the relationship between India and Africa as the continent always attaches great significance to the contribution of India during its fight against colonialism, apartheid and imperialism.

3 mins

From Subsistence to Sustenance

Farmers look to cash crops to build long-term resilience to climate change in Ethiopia.

4 mins

The Stunning Rise of Vernon Philander

“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”

2 mins

Read all stories from The Times Of Africa

The Times Of Africa Magazine Description:

THE TIMES OF AFRICA, bi-monthly reading is well known in diplomatic and corporate circles of India and Africa. The synergy of acclaim, recognition and appreciation has infused in us a gala spirit and made us feel proud since it has won accolades and established itself by virtue of meaningful presentation of credible rich content on Africa-India partnerships, socio-economic issues, business and investment opportunities, political developments, features on travel and tourism and cultural extravaganzas. Personality rendezvous, interviews with Ambassadors/High Commissioners and country specific spotlights are other special attractions. 
It has succeeded in making successful in-roads to the reading desks of diplomatic and corporate houses in India as well as the African continent. It is indeed blessed with the good genes of its clients and its new fusion look has become an International business statement. 

We have a very robust distribution network covering metro cities, diplomatic missions, national organizations, foreign agencies, corporate and export houses, business class hotels and airlines, both within the country and offshore. 
A fair sprinkling of top professionals from the fraternity, former senior government officials, public servants, journalists and renowned educationalists contribute to the team of THE TIMES OF AFRICA.