NTU and SBF launch Centre for African Studies

It will provide in-depth insights on Afican markets.

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Business Federation (SBF) today launched a new centre to provide Asian executives, entrepreneurs and policymakers with in-depth insights on African markets.

The new NTU-SBF Centre for African Studies, the first of its kind in South-east Asia, will provide Asian companies eyeing Africa’s rich opportunities with a distinct business advantage.

The Centre was launched this morning at the 2014 Africa Singapore Business Forum (ASBF) by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam; SBF Chairman Teo Siong Seng; Nanyang Business School Dean Ravi Kumar; Ambassador Shabbir Hassanbhai, Singapore's non-resident High Commissioner to Nigeria; and representatives from the Centre’s five founding donor companies.

As part of its inauguration, the Centre, which is a research centre under NTU’s Nanyang Business School, also launched its flagship online portal, African Business Insights. The portal publishes the Centre’s research findings as well as perspectives from contributing partners.

NTU’s Nanyang Business School Dean Ravi Kumar said: “Africa is no longer a region that businesses can afford to ignore if they want to thrive in the next 50 years. With a youthful and ambitious population of one billion people, the continent will be the next leader of global economic growth as social and political transformation takes root.”

“The NTU-SBF Centre for African Studies will play a crucial role in helping companies here and in the region gain deep and intimate knowledge of Africa’s vast and varied markets, while nurturing Africa-savvy talent that will enable them to establish and expand on the continent.”