Trade Group warns U.S. computer companies: Don't risk ignoring the African computer market; African Chamber of Commerce cites strong potentials for telecommunications, Internet and vertical market openings.NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 4, 1995--American computer companies seeking new markets for their products should seriously consider investigating the African market. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the African Chamber of Commerce, a trade consulting group based in New Orleans New Orleans (ôr`lēənz –lənz, ôrlēnz`), city (2006 pop. 187,525), coextensive with Orleans parish, SE La., between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, 107 mi (172 km) by water from the river mouth; founded , there is a very strong and very serious interest in the latest American software and hardware, including products aimed at the telecommunications, Internet and vertical markets. "Next time you hear the word Africa, put the antiquated stereotypes aside and start to think about a vibrant market open to state-of-the-art technology," says Dr. I.C.A. Okpalobi, president of the African Chamber of Commerce. "Today, Africa is identical to Eastern Europe Eastern Europe The countries of eastern Europe, especially those that were allied with the USSR in the Warsaw Pact, which was established in 1955 and dissolved in 1991. and Latin America Latin America, the Spanish-speaking, Portuguese-speaking, and French-speaking countries (except Canada) of North America, South America, Central America, and the West Indies. in its experiencing a continent-wide flourish of pro-capitalist privatization privatization: see nationalization. privatization Transfer of government services or assets to the private sector. State-owned assets may be sold to private owners, or statutory restrictions on competition between privately and publicly owned . Governments are actively encouraging private enterprise and the need for business and financial software programs to meet the needs of this new rush to business provides excellent opportunities for vendors who create such products." American technologies are overcoming many traditional infrastructure problems within Africa. Okpalobi cites the reason example of Laser Communications Inc. (LCI LCI Livable Centers Initiative LCI Life Cycle Inventory LCI Landing Craft, Infantry LCI La Chaine Info (French cable news channel) LCI Lean Construction Institute LCI Lions Club International ) in Lancaster, PA, which successfully applied its wireless laser-based local area network technology in Lesotho to link the Government Computer Centre with the Government Finance Department, located only 450 meters away. When news of this wireless connection was announced, LCI and its African distributors received numerous inquiries throughout Africa. But for telecommunications providers who offer traditional wired products, there is a very real market for the sales of fiber optic cables, other telephony products. "Consider the current efforts by AT&T Submarine Systems of Morristown, N.J., which is creating the 35,000-kilometer Africa One Africa One is a Democratic Republic of Congo based airline. The airline is on the List of air carriers banned in the EU. Accidents and incidents 2007 Africa One Antonov An-26 crash: an Antonov An-26 cargo plane operated by Malift Air crashed into a market in the underwater fiber optic cable system which will loop around Africa, landing at 40 different sites and connecting Africa to the international global telecommunications network A telecommunications network is a of telecommunications links and nodes arranged so that messages may be passed from one part of the network to another over multiple links and through various nodes. ," says Okpalobi. In addition to the telecommunications market, Okpalobi cites the wide open market for Internet services. To date, only 12 of Africa's 53 countries are on the Internet, which literally provides an entire continent as an open market. Okpalobi also stresses the need for software program tailored to the vertical markets. "Business and financially-oriented programs are especially critical to Africa," he says, adding that the fastest growing markets in Africa include banking, agriculture, education, transportation, health care, energy, legal, tourism and marketing. Addressing the linguistic needs of a particular country or region can also lead to market domination: Okpalobi notes the success of Phonetic Systems, a Houston-based OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) The rebranding of equipment and selling it. The term initially referred to the company that made the products (the "original" manufacturer), but eventually became widely used to refer to the organization that buys the products and for Apple Computing that created word processing word processing, use of a computer program or a dedicated hardware and software package to write, edit, format, and print a document. Text is most commonly entered using a keyboard similar to a typewriter's, although handwritten input (see pen-based computer) and packages based on the Geez geez interj. Used to express mild surprise, delight, dissatisfaction, or annoyance. [Shortening and alteration of Jesus1.] script used in the Eritrea's Tigrinya and Amharic languages, thus providing a near-exclusive stake for Apple in that country's government and business computer markets. The African Chamber of Commerce is a for-profit trade consulting firm uniquely positioned to maximize existing and future marketing trade opportunities. The African Chamber of Commerce offers diversified expertise in various sectors of the energy industry, providing quality services in oil, gas and environmental clean-up. In addition, it serves as a clearinghouse for African economic, business and social data, working to facilitate import/export opportunities regarding industrial products and commodities to and from all continents. The African Chamber of Commerce uses its international connections to foster business alliances, joint ventures, tourism and educational seminars and scholarships between business owners in the United States and their counterparts in Africa. For more information, contact African Chamber of Commerce, 1001 Howard Avenue, Suite 3901, New Orleans, LA 70113; tel. 504-524-5722; fax 504-524-7351 NOTE: Media inquiries: Open City Communications at 212-714-3575. CONTACT: Open City Communications Phil Hall, 212/714-3575 |
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