According to Appfrica, South Africa has 1.1 million Facebook members, Morocco 369,000, Tunisia 279,000, Nigeria 220,000, Kenya 150,000,and Mauritius 60,000. It is also Appfrica who presents an interesting little project, where Ugandans can interact Facebook through their mobile phones: Status.ug is a completely mobile gateway for Ugandans to also interact on Facebook. Appfrica estimates around 60,000 Facebook registered members in the Kampala area. Erik Hersman wrote on his blog about Sembuse, East Africa’s first mobile social network “Sembuse is a mobile social network. It’s a way for East Africans to connect with each other via short messaging, cheaper than normal SMS messages (much like it’s counterpart Mxit in South Africa).”

Gold Reef City has a ton of rides, from log flumes to inverted roller coasters it has something for everyone. One of its most popular rides, The Tower of Terror, is a vertical-drop roller coaster with a 150+ foot drop into an open mine shaft and a pull-out which features 6.3 Gs of G-force. Just in case make sure to bring a change of pants, as it is the current record holder for the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Africa. Looking for something a little slower paced? You can cool down from the hot African sun and take the family on a trip on the Raging River Rapids. Hop on the family sized tube and get ready for a ride through ancient caves and waterfalls as you ride down the rapids. Another adrenaline rush inducing ride is The Anaconda, another record holder, this one for the tallest and fastest inverted roller coaster in Africa. The only inverted coaster ever built by coaster design company Giovanola, it takes snakes riders through curls and drops at breakneck speeds. With over a dozen rides for guests 4’3” and shorter, the kids will be thoroughly entertained. They can have fun on the River Ride, Runaway Train, Lazy Boats, Baby Dragons and more.  For a peak at what these rides look like check out these roller coaster videos.

Gold Reef City’s 4D Theater lets visitors watch images come to life in amazing 4D as the hydraulic seats, vapors and range of smells give you the illusion that you are in the movie. The Casino on the grounds is open 24 hours a day with a highly trained staff and plenty of gaming options. Gold Reef City Casino is also home to one of the largest smoking casino areas in South Africa with 570 machines in the section. If table games are what you’re into the casino offers 23 American Roulette tables, 3 Reef Routine Poker tables, 3 Baccarat tables, 21 BackJack tables and 2 Touch Tables MultiPLAY Roulettes (1st casino in South Africa to offer Touch Table MutliPLAY Rouletter). High rollers may prefer to spend their time in the exclusive Salon Privé of Club Egoli. With so many things to entertain visitors of all ages, Gold Reef City in Johannesburg is a great place to spend a day or a week, you will never find a dull moment.

In 1991 the Florida State Legislature created FLAWI – The Florida/West Africa Institute  to help promote  cultural, academic, and economic exchanges between the state and the West African region. It is one of eleven such institutes which are administered at affiliate universities and colleges and is based at the model at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.  Affiliate colleges include Florida A&M University in Tallahassee and Florida Community College at Jacksonville.

Strategic Plan Summary

FLAWI will continue to effectively encourage and expand the cultural, educational and economic linkages between Florida and our sixteen West African partner countries. The Florida West Africa Linkage Institute will also continue to explore agreements for exchange of faculty and students, and for joint research projects between institutions of higher education in Florida and West Africa. The Institute will cooperate with interested chambers of commerce, governmental and non-governmental organizations to develop existing potentials for trade expansion. FLAWI will actively promote cultural exchanges between communities in West Africa and the State of Florida. This Linkage Institute will provide qualified students non-resident tuition waivers, within the limits of the waivers available, to pursue a higher education at state universities and colleges in Florida. FLAWI will also explore opportunities for grants and contracts, related to its strategic objectives, and will organize conferences or seminars, as appropriate, to familiarize faculty and community members across the State of Florida with the economies, cultures and political systems of its West African partners.

A Diverse and Dynamic Region

The West Africa region consists of sixteen countries with a total population estimate of 220 million people, spanning over 2,500 miles from the Atlantic Ocean to the interior of the continent. The countries are: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote D’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Maliu, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

Of these sixteen countries, French is the official language in nine, English in five, Portuguese in two, and both French and Arabic in one. There are also hundreds of indigenous African languages from Akan to Yoruba which are commonly spoken in this region.

West Africa’s land surface is mostly flat. The tallest mountains on the continental mainland are about 3,000 feet high; the highest peak is Mount Fogo in the island nation of Cape Verde. The area is rich in natural resources from gold and diamonds to phosphates and manganese. The built environment includes mega cities like Lagos in Nigeria, with a population of 4 million people, skyscraper buildings and clover-leaf freeways. the flowering tree-lined boulevards of Kumasi in Ghana have given it the nickname of The Garden City of Africa.

The sun-washed edifices of Mali are reminiscent of the glory days of trans-Saharan trade caravans. Even though West Africa has been beset with tremendous economic problems in the past, many of these countries have recently implemented reforms to improve their economies and promote development. West Africa is one of the largest and fastest growing regions of the world. These nations are eager to improve the social, economic, and educational conditions of their people. Therefore, there is a high demand for the products and services which Florida’s public and private sectors can provide to West Africa. The cultural and natural resources of West Africa offer a wealth of opportunities for Florida business enterprises. Establishing and strengthening cooperative linkages will benefit these partners on both sides of the Atlantic.

contact

Florida West Africa Linkage Institute
University of North Florida ; 1 UNF Drive; Jacksonville, Florida 32224
Telephone: (904)620-2475, Fax: (904) 620-3870

1. Garden Route, South AfricaDeparting from crowd pleaser Knysna and its salt water estuary, this favorite collection of trails offers cliff top riding, river gorges, and ostrich farms.
2. Nalut, LibyaWith endless miles of excellent trails that are only beginning to get discovered. Arid desert, ancient ruins, high mountains and not another rider in sight.
3. Madadikgadi Pans, BotswanaDuring Botswana’s dry season, these muddy, flamingo filled pans become a hard, crusty desert perfect for a rugged bike trip.
4. Namib Desert, NamibiaRide from the mountains at Windhoek across the blood red Namib Desert. Canyons, granite mountains, and grasslands where antelopes roam are all on the multi-day itinerary.
5. High Sahara Desert, MoroccoPeddle more than 31 miles a day across along old jeep tracks, sipping mint tea in Berber villages, and camping at ancient kasbahs.
6. The Southwest, CameroonPass by 14,000 foot Mt. Cameroon and end at the beach, along the way stopping at tea estates and village markets, while winding through dramatic hills and farmland.
7. Kilimanjaro to Ngorongoro Crater, TanzaniaBike the highest mountain in Africa and then advance to the Masai Plains and Great Rift Valley while scouring the landscape for cheetahs and other wildlife. A classic cycling trip.
8. High Atlas Mountains, MoroccoChallenging climbs and technical switchbacks make this trip through high passes and Berber villages limited to advanced mountain bike enthusiasts.
9. Mpumalanga, South AfricaJohannesburg’s legendary biking region
10. Amman to Petra, JordanThe ancient Nabatean route is made easier with a few bus transfers, but that shouldn’t stop the advanced cyclist from getting to the city of Petra, carved in rock in a hidden valley.

US Doctors For Africa volunteer teams are working side by side with host medical staff providing much needed medical services to hospital patients, primarily to the benefit of women and children. Our medical professionals are providing lectures and training in best practices to address specific health care issues such as Mother To Child Transmission of HIV (MTCT), treatment and care of HIV+ individuals, and Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) programs. Training in Hospital Administration and Management Principles are also being provided. Our operations team in the United States is working toward securing the medical equipment and supplies necessary to expand the capacity of the Zewditu Memorial Hospital, and bring much needed medical treatment to the people of Ethiopia.

During the September mission to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, US Doctors For Africa representatives met with Ethiopian President Girma Wolde-Giorgis to discuss current organizational activities in the country and explore possibilities for future collaboration with the Ethiopian Government.

Our organization is currently in the process of developing additional project opportunities identified during the mission. We will work closely with the Ethiopian Government in bringing volunteer medical professionals to the country where we will provide much needed capacity building services.

Another useful tool to search for business associates in African countries is the Internet. Although the internet is not as widely used in many African countries as it is in the developed world, it nevertheless provides you with an opportunity to search for your business counterparts in several African countries. Dedicated websites like the Africa Business Pages (www.africa-business.com) provide useful information for those looking for business contacts in the African continent. However, before you launch yourself into a “search-and-target” operation, here are some pointers that will help you understand the mechanisms of the African markets and help you choose the right business partner for yourself:

Manufacturer
Large industrial companies or specialist manufacturers will often purchase their requirements directly from producers. This is especially the case for specific machinery or equipment or for bulk users of raw materials.

Most industrial sectors in African countries are dominated by a few very large, diversified groups, although the current trend towards smaller, more focused groups of operating companies has seen the unbundling of many of these large corporations. These large companies are however very important, not only because of their size and diversity but because they are significant end-users of raw materials and capital inputs. Each group will have their own procurement systems to deal with imports and raw materials. This could be an in-house import department or the existence of an import company for the group that operates independently to supply the parent company and other customers. In addition to the large groups, there are numerous smaller manufacturing companies who may engage in direct procurement of certain raw materials and machinery.

It is with great pleasure that I invite you to explore possibilities for trade and investment in Uganda – the fastest growing economy in East Africa. Uganda offers excellent opportunities not only for trade but also to develop and penetrate lucrative markets in East Africa. Neighbouring countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Congo (Zaire) are markets with immense potential and can be tapped from Uganda.

It is a well know fact that the East African region as a whole has emerged as one of the fastest growing markets in the world for consumer and capital goods. The import of goods and merchandise into the East African countries has registered a two-fold increase in the last two years. Uganda has been at the forefront of this economic revolution currently sweeping through East Africa through its bold trade liberalisation policies and sweeping economic reforms.

Statistics speak for themselves – Uganda has been recognised as the fastest growing economy in the region. The GDP growth rate achieved by Uganda in the last decade has been remarkable, to say the least. By participating and strengthening in regional trade promotion bodies like the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), Uganda has contributed immensely to the economic progress and well being of the region as a whole.

The Middle East in general and the United Arab Emirates in particular has been a favoured trade partner for Uganda. Besides being a major source of oil, the United Arab Emirates has emerged as one of the largest suppliers of goods and services to Uganda. Trade between Uganda and the United Arab Emirates has been growing with the passing of each year. Many Ugandans are now flying regularly to Dubai to purchase goods and merchandise which are available at competitive prices.

Emirates Airlines, has played an instrumental role in developing direct trade relations between the two countries by providing direct flights between Dubai and Entebbe. In the last few years, Emirates Airlines has reported an overwhelming increase in traffic on its Dubai-Entebbe sector – a clear indication of growing trade relations between Uganda and the United Arab Emirates.

The interest shown by UAE-based companies in the markets of Uganda and its neighbouring countries was evident through their overwhelming participation in the Afro Business Trade Fair which was held in Uganda. The forthcoming Afro Business Trade Fair being held in Kampala, Uganda provides an excellent opportunity for companies in the Middle East to establish longterm business contacts in the markets of East Africa. Going by the immense success of the previous Afro Business Trade Fairs, I am sure the forthcoming trade fair will be an even greater and bigger event than last yeard’s and will play an even greater role in the promotion of trade and commerce between the two regions.

I invite you to participate in the Afro Business Trade Fair and become part of the business community in East Africa. I am hoping that an even greater number of companies will participate in the Afro Business Trade Fair this year and utilise this opportunity to forge useful business ties with Uganda – the country on the move.

- H.E. Dr. M.A. Kisuule
  Ambassador of Uganda, Embassy of the Republic of Uganda, Riyadh