May 15, 2017: Carolyn Campbell, Managing Director and a Co-Founder at Pan-African private equity firm Emerging Capital Partners (ECP), was invited to contribute to a broadcast panel discussion on “African Trade and Investment under America-First” and to share her insights on how the current administration could effectively engage with Africa.
Speaking alongside fellow panel participants, Florizelle Liser, President and CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa and Maria Da Cruz Gabriel, Executive Director of the US-Angola Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Campbell highlighted how bipartisan initiatives led by former governments present an ideal starting point as the new administration evaluates its Africa policy. For example, the US administration could be instrumental in helping Africa convert its potential into strong results beneficial to both the continent and the US market with strong support of the self-sustaining US emerging market investment arm Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). The panel further emphasized US’ and Africa’s trade interdependency, advocating for a strong business ethos to effectively tap into the African private sector, which holds promises for US businesses investing and trading due to the continent’s growing consumer class and youth population.
The discussion also addressed the positive developmental effect of investment and trade. Ms. Campbell noted ECP’s 2000 investment in Celtel International, a Pan-African mobile GSM telecommunications provider, as a momentous starting point. The investment contributed to Africa leapfrogging telephone lines to develop mobile networks, as mobile telephony penetration grew from an original 2% to 60% in a period of five years. When ECP exited its investment in 2005, Celtel had the largest mobile network in Africa with almost 4 million subscribers in 13 countries across Africa.
The discussion also addressed the positive developmental effect of investment and trade. Ms. Campbell noted ECP’s 2000 investment in Celtel International, a Pan-African mobile GSM telecommunications provider, as a momentous starting point. The investment contributed to Africa leapfrogging telephone lines to develop mobile networks, as mobile telephony penetration grew from an original 2% to 60% in a period of five years. When ECP exited its investment in 2005, Celtel had the largest mobile network in Africa with almost 4 million subscribers in 13 countries across Africa.
To watch the broadcast episode in full, please access Africa Today TV’s website here.
