Field notes and perspectives from our work across African markets.
2026-11-01
Ethiopia joins PAPSS, the African Union's payments reform plan, a DP World port proposal in Nigeria and the World Bank growth upgrade for exporters and inve…
2026-11-09
What the birr float and 2026 banking reforms changed, Addis importers, the wholesale opening, conformity certificates and the Djibouti leg.
2026-11-02
Sell to the oil economy, not the oil projects: Kampala distributors, UNBS pre-export verification and a shilling with no exchange controls.
2026-10-26
A Kigali distribution position that reaches Goma and Bukavu, one-partner coverage, Rwanda FDA and RSB approvals, delivered-Kigali pricing.
2026-10-19
Dar es Salaam plus one upcountry partner, gold-belt demand, the 2025 local content rule, TBS conformity and Zanzibar's separate regime.
2026-10-12
A US dollar market with rising industrial demand, Harare plus Bulawayo coverage, and the licensing and surrender rules to know.
2026-10-05
No local industry to compete with, LNG-driven demand, two or three territorial partners, Portuguese paperwork and dollar pricing done properly.
2026-09-28
Beating the South African incumbent, copper-town demand, citizen suppliers to the mines, Certificates of Conformity and a convertible pula.
2026-09-21
Skip the Johannesburg margin: Namibian distributors, light import licensing, SACU clearance and the easiest currency in the region to be paid in.
2026-09-14
Retail supplier programmes that take small suppliers, the NRCS Letter of Authority, B-BBEE, and one partner that opens the whole SACU region.
2026-08-24
FDA Ghana, GSA, ICUMS clearance through Tema, the cedi playbook and why Accra plus Kumasi is the minimum for real coverage.
2026-08-17
SONCAP, NAFDAC, Form M, the naira reality and the Lagos, Onitsha and Kano trading hubs that move West Africa's goods.
2026-08-11
Import regime, regulators, the Lusaka and Copperbelt distribution landscape and common mistakes. Written from our own offices.
2026-08-11
KEBS PVoC, customs, the layered distribution landscape and the mistakes that cost exporters their first year.
2026-10-01
AfCFTA digital trade corridor, PAPSS payment growth, Gulf-funded port expansion and the harvest-season shipping squeeze for exporters and inve…
2026-09-01
AfCFTA customs modernisation, cross-border payments progress, AGOA tariff shifts and the autumn expo calendar for exporters and inve…
2024-12-18
A practical view on expanding into African markets: AfCFTA, market selection, channels and the groundwork that decides s…
2024-11-20
Our picks of the African trade expos that actually move the needle for exporters entering the continent.…
2024-11-20
Africa needs strategic investments for growth as equals, not charity. A perspective on how to engage with the continent.…
2022-09-20
Field notes from hundreds of trade fairs: the six mistakes that quietly kill an exhibitor's results, and what to do inst…
