Intra-Africa Business Symposium kicks off in Joburg

“We should stop blaming the West and come together as Africans to trade between ourselves and realise the essence of our natural resources, and promote Africa not only as a continent but also as a product,” Mama Kande, a member of Pan-African Parliament, said.

Kande said that there are legislative frameworks in place that regulate intra-Africa business which are not being implemented, partly because of various challenges, thus making difficult for Africans to move forward.

Media seling out the continent

He also lashed out at the media for "selling out" the continent through what he called "exaggerated negative reports" that scare investors away and bring the continent down.

“Africa as a product needs to be sold. But who will sell the product outside the continent? It is the media. The media has a role to play in positioning the continent into the world.”

Natalie Chinje, founder of Upbeat Marketing, the company behind the project, echoed Kande's sentiments, saying: “Africa suffers from a bad reputation and a bad image, largely perpetuated by the media, who needs to redefine their role in repositioning Africa's quest for development.”

Michael Lester, Nissan Africa senior manager, said: “Africa gets bad PR in the media but we need to create a good PR image in the media and move forward a continent that has been badly hit by falling commodities prices, oil revenues, falling tourism revenues and reduction in aid and remittance and potentially as well as portfolio outflows spiked and slowing foreign direct investment (FDI).

Annual gathering

Furthermore, Chinje said that the symposium will from now become an annual gathering that will be rotated from one African city to another.

“But for this gathering to become a successful event, it needs the support of the business community,” she said, thanking all those who contributed to the success of the conference.

The Intra-Africa Business Symposium was made possible with the support of Nissan, Bizcommunity.com, Africa No1 Radio Station, Export-Import Southern Africa, Netcare, Africa News Network and the SA-Angola Chamber of Commerce.

The conference ends tomorrow.