Skip to content Skip to footer
Menu
Menu

Published

Africa Analysis Articles Economic Economy Energy Journalism Opinion Pieces Published Trade
Infrastructure spending in Africa is at a crossroads

An edited version of this article appeared in the Opinions and Analysis section of Business Day (South Africa) on 23/12/2021: https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/2021-12-23-george-philipas-infrastructure-spending-in-africa-is-at-a-crossroads/

The pandemic has certainly not been kind to investment prospects in Africa.  Lead by a slowdown in infrastructure investment from China, foreign direct investment (FDI), already heading south before the onset of the pandemic, fell by 18% in 2020.  More ominously, greenfield investment, investment in new projects, fell precipitously by 63% according to the Global Investment Trends Monitor released by UNCTAD in Jan 2021, the largest regional fall on the globe last year.  The proverbial onslaught culminated with the announcement earlier this month at the recent Forum of China-Africa Cooperation conference (FOCAC) in Dakar, Senegal that plots Sino-African relations for the next three years, of a vertical drop in investment from China from US$ 60 billion to US$40 billion. 

December 24, 20210Comments
Africa Analysis Articles Economic Economy Journalism Published South Africa
Failure shows SA Companies should reconsider African strategy
A look at South African companies’ prospects on the continent, their past successes and failures and how this bodes in the immediate future in light of the recently-implemented AfCFTA. The Business Day (South Africa) article includes insightful comment from Ken Gichinga, chief economist at Mentoria Economics based in Nairobi and Simon Newton Smith, Commercial Executive…
October 19, 20210Comments
Africa Articles Greece Greek-Cypriot Greeks Journalism Published
At the forefront of Greece’s new foreign policy drive: First-hand accounts from the Greek community in Libya
In November 2019, Greece was spurred into its biggest foreign policy shift in a generation.  Borne out of the signing of the now-infamous Memorandum of Understanding between Libya and Turkey on delimiting maritime jurisdictions that encroached on Greece’s internationally-recognised maritime boundaries,  Greece quickly scrambled to re-discover diplomatic and economic ties that had been allowed to decaypretty much since Greece turned its focus towards Europe in the…
October 14, 20210Comments
Africa Analysis Articles Economic Manufacturing Published South Africa Trade
SA must clean up its act in Africa – Its future depends on it
The African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) should be the catalyst for a much-needed overhaul of South Africa’s foreign policy on the continent. Underfunded for too long, overstretched and ideologically shackled to the guilt of its apartheid past, it is time for a more pragmatic approach. The country’s future depends on it.
September 2, 20210Comments
Africa Articles Ethiopia Greece Greeks Journalism Published South Africa
A New Chapter in Greek-African relations or just a flash in the pan?
Following a recent flurry of diplomatic activity by Greece on the African Continent, the article inquires why the sudden interest and examines whether Greece can follow through with action to fulfill its stated goal of becoming a “bridge between Africa and Europe” as Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, recently said. The piece includes…
August 5, 20210Comments
Analysis Articles Debt Economy Journalism Kenya News Published South Africa
Smart Cities in Africa. The Smart Move or another White Elephant that brings crushing debt

A shorter version of this article appeared in Business Day, South Africa on 23rd March 2020

https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/2020-03-23-sas-smart-city-drive-may-not-be-such-a-clever-move/

Last month President Ramaphosa in his SONA heralded the forthcoming construction of a new 5G-ready smart city around Lanseria Airport in the next decade.  With it, South Africa was belatedly thrust to the front of a Continent-wide rush to establish so-called smart and eco-friendly cities, seen as a means of jump-starting the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution powered by digital technology.

March 24, 20200Comments
Analysis Articles Economic Economy Journalism Published
The President’s New Clothes

A shorter version of this article appeared in Business Day, South Africa on 05/09/19 'Shredding of the rag trade has lessons for the future'

https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/2019-09-05-shredding-of-the-rag-trade-has-lessons-for-the-future/

‘We never realised it could be so dramatic!’ Aldo Agnelli, Managing Director of House of Monatic says smiling and throwing his arms open as a gesture of warm welcome and striding into his humble wood-panelled office.  He was referring to the President of South Africa’s recent State of The Union Address where Mr Ramaphosa proudly announced wearing a suit, shirt and tie made by the clothing manufacturer.  The President was actively encouraging consumers to buy locally made products to stimulate domestic production. 

February 28, 20200Comments