Quite possibly the most exhaustive comparative socio-economic study yet done on Sub-Saharan Africa economies.

This manual is an exhaustive macro-economic survey of all 48 Sub-Saharan Africa countries, as they performed during the 10 years leading to 2009/2010. It presents an in-depth portrait of their investment, economic, and business climates, through hundreds of extensive analyses. Data is gathered from a dozen veritable multilateral agencies including the World Bank, IMF, UNCTAD, UNICEF and the WTO.

All 48 countries are ranked at several turns for hundreds of different economic properties and outcomes. Then there is an overall ranking conclusion in the final chapter.

Thus, a climactic outcome of this exploration is the emergence of a yearly index (Dba Index, Ratings & Ranking) which, for the first time, engages Africa's economies across their entire spectrum of social, economic and business activity.

The exploration delves deeper for West Africa, placing its 16 countries in comparative league tables of performance during contiguous four-year phases leading up to 2009/2010, and also for projections into the future, where possible.

A lively running commentary threads through every chapter, picking up salient points and inferences. It tells its many stories from the perspective of West Africa's largest economy - Nigeria.

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Doing Business in West Africa will prove useful for businesses, multinational corporations, governments, diplomatic missions, development agencies, educational and research institutions; any organisation with significant interests and functions in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Tony Okoromadu

“We wanted this to be the kind of technical manual that pulls you into its pages. Perhaps unprecedented.”

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“The past decade has seen a sea change in the way in which Africa is viewed by the international business community. Negative images, many of them based on inaccurate or out of date information, are steadily being replaced, albeit sometimes rather slowly, with a more balanced picture. With that has come a growing recognition that today Africa, more perhaps than any other land mass in the world, is the continent of real opportunity.

Nevertheless, Africa still poses many challenges for international companies and investors. Not least of these is the continuing problem of accurate data. Statistics are improving, but in many African countries there remains a dearth of proper economic data. Even where these exist, there is no proper interpretation to provide the international investor with guidance. Yet without accurate advice the political and economic landscape of a country can look confusing and forbidding. The potential for commercial and political risk grows, and with it comes a disinclination to invest. Other regions look safer havens.

If African nations are to achieve poverty reduction and rise to become middle income countries or better, they cannot afford to see the inward investment momentum of the past ten years slacken. The arrival of Doing Business in West Africa is therefore timely. It both sheds light on the commercial realities of an important region of the continent and provides a guiding hand to investors.

Drawing on verified sources of information covering the past ten years, Tony Okoromadu has added value to these with a lively, colourful and insightful interpretation. His novel approach both sets today’s statistics in a recognisable context and clearly improves the landscape for decision-making. International investors and African governments alike should welcome this as an important contribution to the economic growth of the continent.”

Baroness Chalker was a member of the British Government for eighteen years, serving as Minister for Europe for nearly 4 years, Minister for Africa for nearly 12 and as Minister for Overseas Development for 8 years.  She holds the joint record for length of continuous government service in the United Kingdom during the 20th century.

She is now involved in a wide number of projects and initiatives focusing on Africa, and serves on the boards of several multinational companies and NGOs. She also founded and chairs the independent consultancy, Africa Matters Limited, which provides advice and assistance to companies with investment and business activities in Africa.

FOREWORD

Lynda, Baroness Chalker

of Wallasey