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