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At the recent AFRICA CEO Forum in Rwanda, Nikhil Gandhi, executive director and chief business officer of Arise Group, shared his unique perspective on Africa’s potential and the innovative solutions needed to address the continent’s infrastructure and economic challenges.
With a distinguished career that includes roles as CEO of TikTok in India, the Middle East, and Africa, Vice President of The Walt Disney Company, and Global CEO of The Times Group in India, Gandhi brings a wealth of experience to his mission of transforming Africa’s industrial landscape.
Gandhi’s vision for Africa is rooted in his belief in the continent’s untapped potential. “Africa is incredibly rich in natural resources and strategically located between the world’s major markets,” he explained.
“However, the lack of local value addition has been a significant hurdle. Historically, countries like Gabon exported raw logs to Europe, China, and India. We changed this by establishing an industrial park in Gabon, attracting 200 companies from 19 countries to process timber locally. This created over 20 000 jobs and significantly boosted Gabon’s GDP.”
Benin’s cashew crop has been completely transformed. Instead of exporting raw cashews to Vietnam for processing, they are now processed locally in Benin.
Benin’s cashew crop has been completely transformed. Instead of exporting raw cashews to Vietnam for processing, they are now processed locally in Benin.
Gandhi believes that creating value chains within African countries is key to economic transformation. “In Benin, we transformed the entire cashew crop,” he noted. “Instead of exporting cashews to Vietnam for processing, we now process them in Benin and export directly to the US, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
This not only develops local economies but also ensures more wealth is retained within the continent.” – Business Insider Africa.
Online Reporter