Tycoon Tells 'Misinformed' US Businesses to Google Africa

Tycoon Tells 'Misinformed' US Businesses to Google Africa
Advertisement

A leading African billionaire said Monday that "misinformed" US businesses need to study up on the continent's opportunities, suggesting they start by Googling.

In Washington for the US-Africa Leaders Summit - President Barack Obama's historic effort to juice up the sagging US economic relationship with the continent - telecommunications tycoon Mo Ibrahim said European and Asian businesses haven't needed such an event to get going in Africa.

"I'm actually a little bit amazed that all those Africans I met on the plane ... are coming all the way here to America to tell the very smart, well-informed American businesspeople that 'guys, you know what, there is a good opportunity in Africa'. They should do some homework," he said.

"Everywhere in Africa there are Chinese businesspeople, there are Brazilian businesspeople."

"None of us went to Brazil, or to Asia or to China to tell them, look, come and invest in Africa. They found out themselves and they come and invest. That's how basic business people behave."

He added: "Why do we need to come and inform these misinformed American businesses? You know, you guys invented Google. Use it please."

(Also See: Google Pulls 'Bomb Gaza' Game From Play Store After Backlash)

Still, the Sudanese-born British-resident, who made his fortune with telecommunications company Celtel before selling it off in 2005, said no one should overstate Africa's economic emergence, given the diverse conditions across 54 countries.

"I'm uncomfortable, frankly, with the hype about Africa. We went from one extreme ... to, like, Africa now is the best thing after sliced bread."

Some 45 heads of state from Africa have gathered in Washington for the three-day summit, as well as scores of business representatives.

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Google Defends Its Child Pornography Tip-Offs to Police
Samsung's China Supplier to Resume Business After Child Labour Allegations
Share on Facebook Gadgets360 Twitter Share Tweet Snapchat Share Reddit Comment google-newsGoogle News
 
 

Advertisement

Follow Us

Advertisement

© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2024. All rights reserved.
Trending Products »
Latest Tech News »