Real Estate: What you should know as an investor

Investments are essential for wealth creation. It’s not enough to leave your cash in the bank, where you will get negligible monthly interests. Invest in real estate today. It is something you have to do at some point before you retire, if you want to be comfortable financially. Why not give yourself a good head start?

If you are looking for a way to invest your savings, why not consider real estate? Such investments are always very lucrative. If you are in doubt, just look up any of the wealthiest people in Nigeria, or the world; you will find one form of real estate investment or the other in their portfolio.

Today, we are going to look at how you can make your first investment in real estate and earn some serious profit, regardless of the amount of money you want to put in.

What is real estate?

Real estate is property comprised of land and any structure(s) or natural resource on it, including water bodies and mineral deposits, as well as any flora or fauna.
Based on its use, real estate can be grouped into three broad categories:

§  Industrial properties, e.g. factories and mines.

§  Commercial properties, e.g. office buildings, retail store buildings, and warehouses.

§   Residential properties, e.g. undeveloped land, condominiums, and private residences.

 

Investment opportunities in real estate

Buying a house or building one is not the only way you can make a real estate investment. The market has lots of opportunities. Here are some of them:

1. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs):

This is one of the easiest ways to make real estate investments without actually acquiring a physical property. REITs are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). They are a form of collective investment scheme, which pools funds from investors and use them to acquire income-generating real estate.

The portfolio of underlying assets is managed by a professional whose job is to maximize your returns. With REITs, you hold an indirect interest in real estate on a flow-through basis, which means that you hold the property as if it were a direct investment.

REITs are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). To buy one, you have to go through your stock broker. It’s just like buying or selling shares.

REITs are a solid investment stock that can earn you regular income. The benefits include the following:

•   Requires no minimum investment.
•   Offers tax advantages.
•    It’s a highly liquid way to invest in real estate. You won’t need a realtor to cash out your investment.
•    REITs pay high yields in the form of dividends.
•   Provides you the opportunity to share in non-residential properties like malls, industries, and hotels.

2. Land flipping

Another great way to invest is to buy land and sell it at a higher price. It is particularly profitable when you buy in a rapidly developing area, in which case you can make up to 300% in profits within a few months, or years, as the case may be.

You can start small by buying just a plot. Or if you have enough capital, buy as much land as you can and keep selling all year round.

While acquiring lands, keep the following in mind:

§       Buy in areas that are rapidly developing if you want to sell within a couple of months. Some areas are faster than others.

§      Ensure you obtain all the documents for the land that show you are buying from the legitimate owner. The documents should include a Certificate of Occupancy or a Governor’s consent. Ensure that you don’t get mixed up in land issues. Acquire lands with the appropriate land titles.

Benefits

• Low or zero maintenance costs.
• Ease of sale
• High profits

3. Become a real estate agent

This is a good option if you don’t have the capital to make an investment. You can simply offer your services to property owners who are looking for a buyer.

Becoming an agent means you get a commission after you find a buyer for the property. The common rate is 10%. So let’s say you find a buyer for a 40 million naira property, you stand to get a commission of 4 million naira.

To become a successful agent, you need to possess good networking skills in order to locate buyers and sellers. Here are some of the roles you’d have to play:

§       List the property to the public through notices, banners, fliers, and so on. But things have become very easy in the 21st century, in which case, advertising on the internet is the easiest and cheapest method you can use.

§        Be readily available to answer any questions buyers may have.

§       Take buyers to see the property (property inspection) and negotiate prices on behalf of the seller.

§       Screen the buyers to make sure that they are qualified to buy the property.
Benefits.

•    Grow your network.
•   Great earning potential.
•   Little or no investment capital required

 

4. Open space leasing

In this scenario, you buy land in a good location. While you wait for the property value to rise, earn monthly fees by leasing the land to people for temporary use. For instance, you can lease it to a church, mechanics or car wash, or other businesses that can construct a makeshift structure that will be easily dismantled when you are ready to sell.

Benefits

• Extra monthly profits before actual land sale, etc.

5. Property development

Property development requires a huge capital investment. It involves acquiring depreciated properties that you can renovate and rent or sell at a very high profit margin. As with any real estate investment, a good location is crucial if you want to make reasonable profits.

Before you go ahead to invest in property development, you have to make sure that the development costs will be far outweighed by the asking price of the property when the renovation is done. So if you spend like 2million naira in renovations, make sure you can sell the property for at least 3 or 4 million naira.
Listed below is one of the benefits:

• Earn a higher profit than when you buy and sell undeveloped land.

6. Franchising

Franchising is a brilliant way to acquire and hold land in different fast growing locations. It however requires considerable capital.

It’s as simple as when you acquire land and use it to establish a business, such as a fast food restaurant. You then buy land in various other locations, build your structures and find franchisees who will manage the restaurants on your behalf.

It may seem that brands, such as Mr. Biggs, McDonalds, Chicken Republic, and many others that exist today are only involved in the fast food business. But real estate acquisition is a major part of it. These lands quickly appreciate in value over time.

• Run a sustainable business while acquiring high value real estate.
• Own land in several major locations across the country.

7. Build or purchase rental properties

Investing in rental properties is one way to keep earning for life. As a landlord, you receive monthly or yearly income after you build or buy properties and rent them out to tenants. You’d have to regularly maintain the building to keep it in good shape, so that you can attract new tenants or keep up with the competition from other landlords in the neighborhood.

You’d also have to find out the price other landlords in the area charge on rent so that you can fix a reasonable price. Over time, your property will appreciate in value, especially if you are in an area of high demand.

The biggest difference between investing in a rental property and other types of real estate investments is the time and effort it demands, especially if you accept bad tenants who damage your property or delay rent payments. If you are not in a good location or don’t invest in maintenance, you face the risk of not attracting any tenants at all.
Benefits includes Earning passive income for the rest of your life.

 

Nigeria - Japan Joint Trade Mission and Business Delegation To Tokyo, Japan

 

Trade Nigeria and Globe Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Partnership with the Nigerian Government presents the Nigeria- Japan Bilateral Trade Mission and Business Delegation 2020. The Nigeria-Japan Bilateral Trade Mission and Business Delegation aims to further strengthen trade and Investment relations between both countries.

Recall that President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the person of Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) was in Tokyo, Japan some years ago during the 7th Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD 7) were both countries came to an agreement to further deepen and extend trade relations between both nations.

Considering the fact that Nigeria as well as Africa is among the fastest growing economies of the world, many Japanese companies are interested in investing into Nigeria with the aim of securing strong economic ties with not just Nigeria but West Africa as a whole.

Currently, our main exports to Japan are Crude Oil, Petroleum products, Cocoa and cashew nuts. However, as Nigeria plans to extend exportation to the non-oil export commodities, the Nigerian -Japan Bilateral Trade Mission and Business Delegation will be an eye opener for other business ventures between both countries.

The Nigeria-Japan Bilateral Trade Mission and Business Delegation will be a power parked program for Companies, businesses, representatives from States and Federal Government. The program will undoubtedly feature Exhibitions, B2B meetings, Business cocktail, Trade Conference, Business Conference and Bilateral Trade Agreement activities.

The event is billed to hold from the 25th to 30th of November 2021.

Registration for the Nigeria-Japan Trade Mission and Business Delegation is ongoing and we implore every well-meaning business minds, individuals and organizations to seize this wonderful opportunity to explore internationally; scout for foreign partners for growth and expansion of their businesses.

Ensure you do not miss out!

 

For further information: kindly visit or call any of the Trade Nigeria offices:

Abuja

Edo House, suite 5 – 05 fifth floor,

Central business district, Abuja.

+234(0)9074484983
+234(0)9123680478
+234(0)9123824798

Rivers State

#6, Omerelu Street, GRA Phase 1,

Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

+234(0)8161261262

+234(0)7056863770
+234(0)7010882314
+234(0)9080088327

 

The aforementioned topic is brought to you, courtesy of National Mail.

National Mail is an online news platform of Trade Nigeria and Globe Chamber of Commerce that focuses on business development, Investment, trade, economic exchange and development. 

Follow National Mail on twitter, LinkedIn, and Nairaland for your one stop news update

Education: What career Path have You Chosen.

                                                    

The decision on what to study at the university level is not always an easy one. Some people know from day one exactly what they want to spend the rest of their life doing. However, that is not the case for most people.

Most people struggled to decide what they wanted to study at the university, much more what they want to do for the rest of my life. However, there were some key steps they took to help them make some of those decisions.  I will explain those steps, and hopefully, give you more clarity on how to make those decisions for yourself.

Set goals

This is possibly the most important thing to keep in mind when deciding what path you want your life to take. It does not matter what skills and qualifications you have if they are not being directed somewhere, or at least have the potential to help you achieve a goal.

The goal does not have to be huge and detailed, it can be as basic as saving “x” amount of money, or getting into “x” university. Having a goal enables you to have a plan, and getting started with smaller objectives can really help direct you to larger ones, which can mean deciding a career path.

Prioritize

We all have different goals and aspirations and as such, value different things. As an individual, it is important to determine what you value more in life. Would you rather work for somebody else, or work for yourself? Is it more important to you that you are passionate about what you are doing, or that you make money doing it? What trade-offs are you willing to make to achieve your ultimate goal.

Passions Are not always career Path

This is a very key step because it can be especially difficult if you are similar to me, and have very many things that you are interested in. It is easy to get caught up in the idea that “your work should not feel like work,” but not everything you are passionate about can sustain you. It is possible to have a passion that can sustain your lifestyle, but you should also be prepared if that is not the case.

This refers back to the earlier point about priorities and deciding whether you would value money over that passion if you had to choose. It is just important to keep this all in mind when you are trying to make these decisions.

Learn To Diversify

This is possibly the most important thing to remember at the end of the day. You can plan all you want, and have the clearest vision, but life has a way of throwing plans out of the window. On one hand, this can be scary, but on the other hand, it is a reminder that you are able to change your mind. You can study one thing in university, and have a completely different career afterwards. You can decide to completely switch careers at any point in time. You have the ability to change.

 

Businesses: challenges and Ways Forward of Start-ups

 

Challenges are inevitable as far as the success journey of a startup is concerned. Therefore, it is important for entrepreneurs to be resilient and focused towards keeping their values intact no matter what the circumstances are.

With the constant rise of highly industrious and motivated entrepreneurs, these individuals are leaving no stone unturned to prove their worth in this thriving culture of innovation and technology.

However, just as many of these startups make a significant presence and flourish, others, unfortunately, disappear into oblivion.

There’s an adage that says Survival of the fittest. Truth be told, this adage apart from humans alone is also applicable to business start-ups. The road to having a successful business start-up isn’t a smooth one which is why it is important for entrepreneurs to not only get an idea and start up a business but also gain the necessary knowledge that could help in bringing the business into existence.

 

Having analyzed all of this, we are left with questions such as, how many startups can survive the tough waves of change? Why do business start-ups fail initially? We could say it is as a result of high risk situations attached with startups, whereby a failed strategy acts as a trigger. With challenges everywhere, general business and particularly start-up businesses, it is important to take note of some of these challenges that are faced in that area.

Going further, let’s take quick points on some common problems of start-ups and their preferred solutions.

Lack of Finances

One of the most essentials for startups to survive is finance. With income increasing and expenses also increasing, startups basically rely on investors who provide strong financial support. Therefore when a situation of lack of finances arises, the start-ups are usually the first to suffer it and eventually submit to the situation. While trying to put in funds into the business, entrepreneurs have to also make sure to pay other necessary bills.

Way forward: preferable solution to this challenge is finding ways in which cost can be minimized. It’s also not a bad idea to go the digitalized way. Entrepreneurs can make use of accounting software to keep track of their inflow and outflow.

 

Poor Business Planning

Another major key for business start-ups is proper business planning. Poor planning has led to the failure of many businesses in the first year. Why? Because they do not effectively put in challenges and pitfalls. As much as your business has innovative ideas and ambitions, a lack of effective and proper planning will lead to a crash.

Way forward: Before launching a business, it is important to carry out proper research by investigating necessary details such as competitors’ prices, suppliers and the rest. This approach builds a solid foundation for a successful business. Also, writing an effective business plan helps startups to define their business, target audience, operational conduct and the amount of money that it will generate and spend.

 

Lack of Proper Marketing Strategy

It is always a challenge for startups to figure out how best they can market their products or services and have it reach a wider audience.

Way forward: Technology today has practically made a lot of things easier as it has opened a broad spectrum of avenues for marketing in form of electronic, print, online etc. Therefore, startups need to seek out ways in which they can create innovative marketing plans, advert placing, to let people know the worth of their product or services. A good marketing strategy should have a vision, a mission and a business goal. It should be able to give a detailed explanation of the role of business products or services in the market. A good proper marketing strategy will keep customers loyal towards the products or services.

 

Competition

A fierce competition happens to be the most inevitable challenge that startups face. Startups are usually faced with two obstacles which are, monopolistic businesses that have dominated the market, making it difficult for newcomers to emerge and secondly, countless startups that are launched regularly in the market having innovative ideas, so it is very much likely to get swallowed by the shadow of other startups.

Way forward: The good thing about competition is that it creates an environment for businesses to come out with the best. There is, in fact, a whole lot of opportunities existing for entrepreneurs because switching costs for most customers are low and many are willing to try new, relatively untested products or services. To overcome the challenge of competition, startups need to research and analyze their niche industry; should be unique and different in approach; and also be able to create, implement, and track their business and marketing plan, which is very important.

 

Lack of A Dedicated Team

A good and dedicated team is everything. Lack of a proper team can cause a business to suffer immensely. Lack of commitment can aggravate frustration in the organization which quickly escalates into an open conflict. If team members start making under commitments due to the fear of being responsible or blamed for failure, businesses will never achieve their set goals.

Way forward: A well-dedicated team with diverse skills is very important for startups to grow and succeed. There ought to be a proper synergy, coordination, and good communication among the members of a team. A team is formed by individuals who have different range of capabilities with identical focus which allows for members to help each other, learn from each other, and put a concerted effort in order to achieve success.

 

Unrealistic Expectations

Success comes with expectations. Startups tend to face challenges when they set ‘unrealistic expectations’ following a booming success. Remember, success is usually short-lived and expectations never end. This is where startups need to understand what the real expectations are. Sustainability is key and sustainability requires consistent efforts.

Way forward: In order for startups to succeed in a competitive business world, they need to have high but controlled expectations, keeping in mind the resources available, the extent of growth potential, and other market factors that need to be considered as well.

 

About Nigeria - Poland Economic and Investment Forum 2021

 

Nigeria - Poland Economic and Investment Forum 2021 is a bilateral business and economic event designed to bring business individuals, Trade leaders, stakeholders of both Poland and Nigeria extraction together to partner and explore trade and investment opportunities.

The objective of this Economic and Investment Forum is to promote and strengthen collaboration and existing opportunities in Nigeria and Poland, and make available a platform for government representatives, investors, private sector representatives, and financial institutions from Nigeria and Poland to explore investment and business opportunities in both sides as well as mitigate the challenges of COVID-19 which undermines economic prospects.

This Economic Forum will be one of the most concrete and important steps of the value Europe attaches to African countries and its efforts to develop and deepen the relations with the Africa Continent.

The Nigeria - Poland Economic and Investment Forum 2021 will help to boost Africa’s economy:

·        create innovative and compelling modern businesses;

·         increase the capacity for these businesses to compete regionally and globally;

·        attract both domestic and foreign investment and diversify investor profile;

·        Contribute significantly to job creation and economic growth.

·        Enabling and enhancing entrepreneurship and innovation across Nig.eria

The Nigeria - Poland Economic Forum is powered by Trade Nigeria and supported by Globe Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nigeria Federal Ministry of  Foreign Affairs, Polish Trade Organization, World Trade Summit & Expo Organization, and lot more.

The aforementioned subject is brought to you, courtesy of National Mail.

National Mail is an online news platform of Globe Chamber of commerce and Trade Nigeria that focuses on business development, Investment, trade, economic exchange and development. 

Follow National Mail on twitter, LinkedIn, and Nairaland for your one stop news update! 

Manufacturing: Inspire of it's improvement manufacturing Sector in Nigeria are grumbling

 

Despite the growth of Nigeria’s manufacturing sector in recent times, Nigerian manufacturers have faced tremendous amount of bottlenecks as they navigate the policy landmines that have become a constant feature in the world’s poverty capital.

The manufacturing sector’s nominal GDP growth in the second quarter of 2021 was 38.33%, up 38.47% from the same period in 2020. Also, Nigeria’s manufacturing sector saw real GDP growth of 3.49% year on year, compared to a decrease of 8.78% in 2020.

Beyond the successes from the global economic recovery, micro-scale local manufacturers in Nigeria are groaning under the weight of the harsh business environment that continues to decimate their capacity to profitably stay in business.

Despite the government’s efforts, local manufacturers suggested that the playing field is getting increasingly tougher to plough, citing age-long constraints such high cost of generating alternative power supply, access to finance, and government policy rollercoaster as major threats to the survival of their businesses.

Financial Freedom : Prioritized lifting your income

 

Almost everyone in life starts out their careers with bigger incomes than their bills, however over time, they amass so many bills that their bills overtake their incomes. From this point forward, only 15% of working professionals will reverse the equation, and from this 15%, only 4% reach the point where their incomes become not only bigger than their bills but also bigger than their financial goals. Moving your income above your bills, and being able to maintain financial stability without salary is the first level of financial success you must achieve. This success is called financial independence.

However, lifting your income above not just your bills, but over your current and future financial needs is the highest level of financial success, and this success is called financial freedom. This means that financial independence is all about achieving today’s success and comfort, while financial freedom ensures that you maintain that level of success throughout life.

Unfortunately, only a few people will ever earn income at this level or invest the income earned for financial freedom. Yet, to achieve financial success, you must raise your income above your financial goals, and you must take care of your needs today, as well as your security tomorrow.

So how do you achieve financial freedom ?

The answer is simple.

But first, I’ll show you the price that you must pay. Every prize has a price, and so does your next level success.

There are three prices to choose from. The first is the price of growth and discipline. For you to move from your current level to the next, you need growth in skills and the discipline to take action. This price has a worthy purpose, and it is one that you should pay. This is also the cheapest price you would ever pay for success. The second is the price of procrastination. This is where you delay taking action until you have only a little time left. To achieve the same goal, you must then take extreme action that results in deeper pain. Also, chances are high that you may not achieve all that you set out to achieve. The third price is the price of regret. This is where you delay taking action until you run out of time and can no longer avert the consequence. The only thing left when you are at this stage is to endure the consequences of your inaction, and the regret price is the most painful price to pay.

Next, let’s look at how you can lift your income. To lift your income above your financial goals, there are only two things to do.

The first is to know the source of income and focus on earning from it. The second is to develop the tools that produce high income. Let’s look at each of them in detail.

Source of income

All income comes from one source and that source is skills; without them, you cannot earn income. Today, you earn income because you apply certain skills to solve problems for your employer. This means that if you focus on developing high-income skills first, you will generate the income that will fast-track your investing effort. Focusing on investing first is a slow process. Today, active income is still the most potent income in the world. Only a strong active income can produce strong passive income: thus, to grow your income fast, you must first focus on developing high-income skills. Yet, having skills alone will not produce the desired income.

To lift your income above your goals, you need three other components. The first is time, the second is relationships and the third is income earning platforms. Skills without the time to apply will generate no income. Skills with time but without relationships will produce no income. And the skill with time and relationships but without a platform to earn income, will still lead to no income. Thus, the only way to truly earn an income is to have skills, time, relationships, and platforms working for you. Your job has these four components. First, you have the skills to help your employer make money, that’s why you were employed. Next, you also invest your time to offer this skill, then you offer it within an income-generating relationship, and finally, you earn income through a job platform.

So, if you have skills, time, relationships, and a job platform, why are you not still earning the income of your dreams?

You need the second point.

Tools that increases income

There are four tools for earning high income and they include skills, time, relationship, and platform. Yet these four tools combine to produce three different types of income. The first is the low-income, the second is middle-income and the third is the high-income. 

Low income is any income that is lower than your bills. If your bills are ahead of your income, you earn a low income, regardless of how much you earn. Low income is produced by low-income skills. And examples of low-income skills include theory-based skills (Fresh graduates), routine-based skills that can be done by anyone or machine, and skills that have no direct relationship to the company’s bottom line. Thus, a low income is produced when you combine low-income skills that require plenty of time and focuses on serving one employer through a single job platform.

The second is middle-income skills. Middle-income skill is any skill that can earn income that is above bills. That is, earned income enough to pay bills and also create a financial safety net. Thus, people with middle incomes are able to maintain financial stability for months without a salary. Examples of middle-income skills include low-income skills that have been refined over time and through many years of experience or some job based specialized skills. This means that most middle-income earners have many years of experience. Yet middle-income skills are still job-based skills. Out there in society and all by yourself, you may not be able to use them to earn income at the same level. Most middle-income earners also serve one employer at a time and leverage one job platform. Thus, to earn a middle income you must be ready to stay long in the corporate world.

The third is high-income skills. These are skills that can produce an income that is above your present and future financial goals. This means that high income skills can buy you financial freedom. To earn high income, you need high income skills. Examples of high-income skills include creativity and innovation, productivity and time management, rich relationship building, and influential marketing. All high-income skills are evergreen skills and multi-industry. This means that they can be applied in any industry on any platform and at any stage of life. High-income skills also require less time to generate income and they are the most potent multiple income tools. If you want to lift your income above your life goals, you must invest in developing high-income skills.

Nigeria - Korea Economic and Investment Forum, Seoul, South Korea is Coming up in October 2021

 

Nigerian and South Korea will be making a huge move to strengthen bilateral trade between them in October as they hold a Trade Mission in Seoul, South Korea.

The Nigeria – Korea Economic and Investment Forum is a Joint Trade Mission which will strengthen economic ties between the two the countries is billed for October 2021,in Seoul, South Korea.

According to the chairman of Trade Nigeria, Hon. Buchi George, the Business Investment, Trade and Economic Exchange will promote local and international goods and services from the two countries, adding that it is an event both public and private sectors should not take for granted.

“The event will promote a lot of local and international businesses, factories, investments, companies, industries, locally made goods, products and services, visitors, traders, and investors”

“This will be a huge opportunity for Nigerian manufacturers and providers of services that needed a platform for export. It will also help others seeking international partnerships and investors”, He added.

Nigeria-Korea Economic and Investment Forum is produced by Trade Nigeria in partnership with Globe Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI); and other Trade Organizations.

It is also a joint initiative and partnership with Transnational Trade and Commerce Center, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, World Trade Summit & Expo Organization, Nigerian Embassy Turkey, Globe Chamber of Commerce and Industry, States and Federal Government of Nigeria.

State Chambers of Commerce & Industries; State Government Representatives; Industrialists, Investors and others, are those expected at the event.

For enquiry: call or visit any of Trade Nigeria Offices:

Abuja

Edo House,Suite 5-05,Fifth Floor

Central Business District, FCT, Abuja.

09074484983

09123680478

09123824798

 

Rivers State

#6 Omerelu Street, GRA, Phase 1

Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. 

08161261262

07010882314

07056863770

Nigeria @61 Day Celebration and Awards: "We are using this opportunity to make Nigeria marketable to improve FDI"- Hon. Buchi George

 

Trade Nigeria has announced that the Nigeria National Day Awards for 2021 will be taking place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The event which is also merged with other activities to promote unity between Nigeria and the host countries will feature a friendly football match, according to official sources from the organization.

Other features at the event according to the source include Nigeria UAE Economic and Investment Forum as well as Nigeria Connect Live Concert which is expected to have Nigeria’s top artists on stage.

“We have endless opportunities to sell Nigeria to the world and our organizations are taking advantage of that to put our great Nation on the global map”, Hon. Nwabueze Buchi George told our media from Abuja, Nigeria.

He said that beyond the promotion of bilateral trade and investment between the two countries, the event will also mark some outstanding individuals and groups for recognition at the award ceremony.

“We work, build and also celebrate outstanding people, so they can do more. It is a unique event where Nigeria’s 61 years of independence will be celebrated, while we will also have that special opportunity to look at the areas we need to improve in” he said.

Hon. Buchi George who heads both Trade Nigeria and Globe Chambers of Commerce and Industry further stated that the weight and cohesiveness the two organizations will see to outstanding planning while the partnerships between both nations will see to the smooth implementation of the plans.

"We have the approval of the Consulate General of Nigeria in UAE and on both ends we have approval for this event. We have done it before in Singapore and this time we want to do something better”, he said.

In 2019 Trade Nigeria organized a similar event in Singapore, while the 2020 edition could not hold due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

With the 2021 edition billed for the 2rd to 4th of October, in Dubai UAE, Hon. Buchi George said the event will see Nigeria and Nigerians forge fresh economic partnerships with UAE and business over there with Nigerians and friends of the country expected to be on the list of awardees.

 

GCCI: Africa Economic and Investment Forum 2021, To Asia and Europe

 

As the world prepares for a gradual return to normalcy from the devastating effect of the covid pandemic , Globe Chamber of Commerce and Industry has lined up series of programs to stabilize and promote business organizations.

The lined up programs include and not limited to, Africa-Asia Economic and investment forum to countries like Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China; Africa - Europe Agrotrade and Investment Forum to countries like Poland, Malta, Czech. Other programes are geared towards improving entrepreneurship; Train-For-Trade Program, Project 360among others.

The programs according to the organization will Fast track a large volume of trade between African countries, Asia and Europe. This is one way towards unifying countries and continents, and in addition, a towards seeing Africa bounce back to greatness after the devastating effects of covid-19 pandemic on global trade especially.

With all this events in place, the president of Globe Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Hon. Nwabueze Buchi George, believes that 2021 will be a great time for the proposed programs, adding that with more than one covid vaccine available now, he believes that no participants will be put in any form of danger.

“We need to open the world up with ideas”, Hon. Buchi George said, while speaking from Abuja Nigeria. He further stated that one of those ideas is to find ways nations and continents can partner to achieve a greater common good.

“Asia is a great continent and can offer us a lot, while we can do same for them. We’re working on a union that will encourage trade, investments and economic development in both ways and working with appropriate authorities in several African countries is one thing we are doing at the moment and we will be announcing a lot of participating nations before the time of the event”

Africa- Asia Economic and Investment Forum will be the first on the list of programs lined up by Globe Chambers of Commerce and Industry as the organization look to also connect with other nations of the western world where they believe Africa can network for economic development.

Africa: The Effectiveness of Women in Business

Naturally speaking, women have not fared as well as men in the workplace, with most women earning just three-quarters of what their male counterparts make — but that is only half the story. For the last 20 years, more women have opted to start their own businesses than ever before, even outpacing men, and they have been thriving. The reality is that women can, and should, have a large presence in the business world.

According to research conducted by National mail, businesses that have at least one woman in an executive seat tend to have much higher valuations than companies with all men. In fact, companies with a female executive are worth 64 percent more at first funding and 49 percent more at last funding than their all-male counterparts. With numbers like that it, is no wonder that the amount of early-stage investing in companies with at least one female executive has been growing over the past 15 years, tripling to 15 percent from a mere 5 percent, but there is still room to grow.

One big advantage women offer the business world and management in particular is that they have different sets of life and work experiences than men do and thus different perspectives. This leads to different opinions, different preferences, and different strategies. In turn, this diversity allows decision-making to become more multi-dimensional and thus more comprehensive. Boards with at least one female member tend to take longer to green-light acquisitions than all-male boards. This is because women tend to be more risk-averse and strategic than men. While this tendency may lead to smaller and/or fewer acquisitions, it also allows for more careful and more informed decisions.

The trend for women in business is growing. It is fueled by women determined to lean and get into the big business game, millennials looking to define their own career paths, and many others who are more entrepreneurial in nature.

 

Mentorship programs are helping pull women up, further than ever before. At the same time, women are pulling together and creating their own networking, conferences, and meet-ups — but they still have a way to go. Women looking to start businesses or expand existing ones have less opportunity for funding, and overall they make less than men, even if they have the same title and education.

 

Women must be considered seriously in business, be it as executives or entrepreneurs. They can bring different perspectives to the proverbial table and tend to be more strategic. This tendency may make them more risk-averse in acquisitions, but it also leads to greater success from a valuation standpoint in the start-up phase, when more calculated moves have the biggest impact. It will take time to achieve workplace equality, but women in business is what should be encouraged and nurtured to grow.

Africa Women in Agriculture is a program designed to support, empower and encourage Africa women in agriculture. The program will be powered by Trade Nigeria in partnership with Globe Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

stay tuned as more update comes your way.