The United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) African Facility for Inclusive Markets (AFIM) is a regional programme which launched a training and implementation roll-out of the African Agribusiness Supplier Development Programme (AASDP) from the 9th to 10th October 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya. Mr Tinashe Kapuya, International Trade Intelligence Manager of Agbiz attended the Workshop.  The objective of this particular workshop was to conceptualise and design a pilot framework for inclusive markets that would ensure broad-based development and expansion of agricultural commodity value chains. Key questions that the workshop aimed to address centred on how agribusinesses could design sustainable investments that can deliver developmental objectives within the context of the broader challenges facing agriculture in Africa such as limited access to finance, segmented markets, poor infrastructure, and insecure land tenure. Read more»

When it comes to marketing brands on the African continent, a one-size-fits-all approach does not work, said Michael Wood, Director Aperio, at the CGCSA Summit which was held this week in Johannesburg. African consumers are looking for locally relevant brands they can connect with and exporters need to understand consumer sentiment and behaviour to avoid failing in their chosen regions. Trust is critical in African consumers' eyes and is often built by word of mouth, endorsements by friends and relatives. Consumers want to identify with the brand in terms of regional and cultural differences. Value and affordability are key influencers. Affordability is value within a framework of what consumers can actually afford but without compromising quality. Africa is full of smaller sized single use sachet packed products (everything from washing powder, to milk powder to vodka is sold in single use sachets).

Shoplifting is seen as a serious crime which has a huge effect on South Africa's economy. The crime statistics for 2012/13 show between five retailers Shoprite, Pick 'n Pay, Massmart, Spar and Woolworths between two and three billion rand is lost annually due to shoplifting.

Another area where SAPD believe the CGCSA and the insurance industry could play a vital role is with regard to the hijacking of trucks carrying goods, which increased by 14.9% during the past financial year of 2012/13. The primarily interest is not so much in the truck, it is the goods. These goods, are believed, often find their way to many shops across the country and some to the neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Swaziland. More»