Chinese influence on African consumer trends will grow

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Consumer Goods ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Simultaneous Occurrence ◽  
Consumer Market ◽  
Cultural Products ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chinese Consumer ◽  
Sub Saharan

Significance By 2025, an estimated two-thirds of African households will have discretionary income, significantly expanding the consumer pool. Growth in sub-Saharan Africa’s consumer market coincides with a regional expansion in Chinese cultural products. The simultaneous occurrence of both trends will influence long-term consumer preferences in most sub-Saharan markets, especially Nigeria and South Africa, where Chinese platforms and products are becoming established. Impacts As China expands its electronics and media presence in Africa, Chinese consumer goods will become more mainstreamed. Chinese automakers such as GAC Motors will expand their share of the Nigerian market. Through WeWallet and other Chinese fintech applications, China could become a key player in Africa’s bourgeoning e-commerce sector.

scholarly journals Business model development for sustainable apparel consumption

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 481-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Holtström ◽  
Charlotte Bjellerup ◽  
Johanna Eriksson
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Model Development ◽  
Distribution Networks ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Business Model Development

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify key aspects of business model development for sustainable apparel consumption, as actors show an increasing interest in product‒service systems. This purpose should be seen from a retailers’ perspective so as to develop sustainable solutions for long-term survival in the apparel industry when meeting consumer preferences for fashion as well as an increasing interest in consuming less. Further, this is from a perspective in an economy where sharing and circularity are potential drivers for changing consumer patterns. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on the apparel retailer Houdini Sportswear and its business model development from a traditional model of selling sportswear to a more future-oriented model where sustainability is more salient. The data for analysis were collected through interviews with employees within the studied company. The interviews have been guided by overarching themes covering relevant areas of interest for this study. Findings Overall, the paper shows how sustainability can be included in strategic development, from product idea, product development, production and sales/rental to repair, reuse and finally recycling. The paper also highlights potential obstacles in a developed business model with increased sustainability, including technological platforms, distribution networks for collecting and returning products and consumer consumption preferences. There are a few intertwined factors to be considered on different societal levels to achieve long-term success. Originality/value This study contributes an increased understanding of how more sustainable solutions can be included when developing business models. While the manufacture, distribution and consumption of clothes have an impact on the environment, some retailers and producers want to reduce this environmental impact. One alternative is to change the way clothes are consumed, to include more sharing and circularity.

Prospects for Africa's economies to end-2016

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Commodity Price ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Gdp Growth ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Idiosyncratic Shocks ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Eastern And Southern Africa

Subject Prospects for Africa's economies to end-2016. Significance The IMF's most recent forecast of 3% GDP growth for sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in 2016 represents a significant cut from the 4.25% it expected in October 2015. This is a consequence of sharp slowdowns in the region's two largest economies, Nigeria and South Africa, droughts in previously buoyant economies (notably in eastern and southern Africa), a variety of idiosyncratic shocks and a prolonged commodity price downturn.

Improved African infrastructure will be key to growth

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sovereign Wealth Funds ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Profile ◽  
Access To Water ◽  
Insurance Firms ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Private Financing ◽  
Ssa Countries

Subject Infrastructure outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa. Significance Africa's infrastructure needs are under increasing scrutiny after several recent high-profile summits, as well as visits by international leaders to the continent. Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries need to invest collectively an estimated 130-170 billion dollars per year to maintain and enhance transportation networks, achieve near 100% electrification and 100% access to water and sanitation. However, SSA faces an annual deficit of more than 68 billion dollars unless financing commitments increase sharply. Impacts A growing number of international insurance firms are likely to invest in regional and continent-wide infrastructure funds. Sovereign wealth funds could lead the private financing drive as they face fewer restrictions than pension funds and invest long-term. Amid growing African debt levels, development banks and multilateral bodies will increasingly support private infrastructure deals.

South Africa's gold mining faces long-term decline

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Content Type

Headline SOUTH AFRICA: Gold mining faces long-term decline

Consumer preference and demand for traceable food attributes

2016 ◽  
Vol 118 (9) ◽  
pp. 2140-2156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiao Lu ◽  
Linhai Wu ◽  
Shuxian Wang ◽  
Lingling Xu
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Consumer Preference ◽  
Multinomial Logit Model ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Significant Heterogeneity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Food Traceability ◽  
Traceability System ◽  
Chinese Consumer ◽  
The Government

Purpose The purpose of this paper with pork as a case is to analyze Chinese consumer preference and demand for traceable food attributes, in order to provide a useful reference for Chinese Government in developing the safe food market and preventing food safety risks. Design/methodology/approach This research surveyed 1,380 consumers in seven pilot cities that designated by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce for the construction of a meat and vegetable circulation traceability system. A choice-based conjoint analysis and multinomial logit model were used to study consumer preferences and demand for traceable pork attributes. Findings The results demonstrated that certification of traceable information was the most important characteristic, followed by appearance and traceable information. Significant heterogeneity was obtained in consumer preferences for the attributes of traceable pork. Also, consumers’ preferences for traceable attributes were memorably influenced by age, education level, and income level. Social implications Based on these results, the government should encourage and support the production of traceable food with different certification types and different traceability levels. Meanwhile, the development of food traceability systems should be combined with a quality certification labeling system. Originality/value This study extends the applicability of the setting of traceable food attributes and levels in China, and it will improve Chinese food traceability systems through multilateral cooperation.

Madagascar's apparel sector could be key to rebound

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Vocational Training ◽  
Trade Preference ◽  
Industry Association ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Export Industry ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Eu

Subject Madagascar apparel sector. Significance Madagascar has emerged as sub-Saharan Africa's top exporter of apparel to the EU, outpacing regional competitors such as Ethiopia, Kenya and South Africa. The country's return to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preference scheme in recent years has positioned the country to become the largest production hub in Africa for the global apparel market. Impacts Recent damage from cyclone Enawo could hamper infrastructural connectivity. The government will prioritise vocational training for the textile and garment sector in coordination with the export industry association. New FDI will be crucial to expanding the supply chain making inputs for garment assembly.

Prospects for African economies in 2019

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Gdp Growth ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sub Saharan

Subject Prospects for African economies in 2019. Significance Sub-Saharan Africa’s gradual recovery is set to strengthen in 2019 with regional GDP growth seen accelerating to 3.1% from 2.7% in 2018, led by recoveries in the three largest economies -- Angola, Nigeria and South Africa. Looking ahead, economic growth is expected to average around 4% over the medium term, reflecting continuing convergence between high- and low-performing countries, although wide disparities will persist.

African states hope the Gulf crisis will end soon

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Union ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gulf Countries ◽  
Political Effects ◽  
Gulf Crisis ◽  
Sub Saharan

Significance The split between Qatar and its neighbours has pushed a few small African countries to side with Saudi Arabia, but leaves the continent’s leading powers and several conflict-afflicted nations eager to stay neutral -- for now. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) -- where Gulf countries have strong diplomatic ties and major economic investments -- the crisis has had significant political effects. Impacts The withdrawal of Qatari peacekeepers from the Djibouti-Eritrea border will become a pressing concern for the African Union. Ongoing expulsions of African migrants from Saudi Arabia will complicate Saudi and Emirati efforts to find African partners against Qatar. Countries such as South Africa and Nigeria may begin to act more assertively in calling for neutrality.

Language and (in)hospitality

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cécile B. Vigouroux
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Nation State ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Work Done

Abstract Based on a long-term ethnography of Sub-Saharan African migrants in Cape Town, South Africa, this article examines how language as ideology and practice shapes the rules of guesting and hosting and helps (re)configure the on-going positionalities of both the nation-state-defined-host and the foreigner-guest, making murky the distinction between the two. The key notion of hospitality developed here is examined as practices rather than as identities. I argue that this theoretical shift makes it possible to unsettle the host and guest positions by not positing them a priori or conceptualizing them as immutable. It likewise makes it possible to deconstruct the categories imposed by the State and by which scholars and policy makers alike abide, such as the dichotomy between migrants and locals. At a broader level, the paper draws attention to the Occidentalism that has plagued academia, particularly in the work done on migration. I show how the South African case challenges many scholarly assumptions on language and migration overwhelmingly based on the examination of South-to-North migrations, which do not adequately represent worldwide migrations.

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