At the Frontier 100 Forum in Cape Town, South Africa, the Initiative for Global Development and Dalberg Global Development Advisors released Frontier 100's report - Pioneers on the Frontier: Sub-Saharan Africa’s Multinational Corporations. This is the first report to identify the emerging class of of homegrown Sub-Saharan African multinational corporations and share insights for other African companies about how to expand effectively and maximize their development impact. The following are the main findings of the report:
 Sub-Saharan MNCs have seen dramatic growth in the past several years
- They are expanding across the region, and thriving in markets that global multinationals may have considered unprofitable, too complex or even dangerous
- They grew at an annual rate of almost 30 percent from 2006 to 2009, far outpacing their global competitors, including Standard & Poor’s 500 biggest American firms
- MNCs present opportunities for investment
- Their strong track record - even through the global economic crisis - makes them credible partners for global companies and investors wishing to enter Sub-Saharan Africa
- MNCs can be a powerful engine for development
- They offer employment and skill development, provide critical goods and services, and strengthen local supplier
- Changes in political and economic environments have set the stage for the growth of Sub-Saharan MNCs
- The spread of democracy is gradually making economic systems more meritocratic, opening up entrepreneurial opportunities and fostering a new middle class
- Economic integration is beginning to eliminate barriers to cross-border commerce
- Continued growth will depend in part on governments
- Governments can create more hospitable environments for growth and investment, including increased regional integration and infrastructure improvements
- MNCs can help by advocating for effective policies and sharing their business insights and expertise
Download the report overview
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