David Owino, founding partner of Ascent Capital Africa, discusses the most attractive investment opportunities in East Africa, focusing on sectors like manufacturing, agro-processing, healthcare, logistics, fintech, and education. He highlights the firm's investments in companies like Kisumu Concrete and Metro Plastics, which benefit from local demand and competitive advantages. Owino also explains why Ascent avoids sectors such as real estate, primary agriculture, and infrastructure due to lack of experience, market maturity, and government influence. The firm prefers to invest in businesses that contribute to economic growth outside capital cities and provide value addition.

David is a journalist located in Kenya with a focus on business, finance, and development sectors. He has gained experience as an on-camera presenter and has taken on the role of Kenya correspondent for Africa News. Additionally, David is a founding member and editor of two media outlets, DIRAJ and Zulani TV, which further showcases his involvement and influence in the media industry within Kenya.

Air pollution, responsible for around 5,000 premature deaths in Kenya in 2019, is being tackled by the adoption of electric motorcycles. Nairobi's air quality is worsening due to motorcycle taxis, but companies like Opibus are converting combustion engine motorcycles to electric, targeting boda boda riders. Electric motorcycles offer savings on fuel and maintenance, and riders like Josephat Mutiso are experiencing better control and increased savings. With the climate crisis driving the search for solutions, clean mobility is becoming a priority in Kenya, aiming for a greener economy and improved health.

The article outlines eight promising business ventures in Africa for 2022, including the formalization of traditional food items, budget hotels, organic product exports, building materials, healthcare for the middle class, using Ethiopia as a regional hub, tapping into African luxury brands, and local packaging solutions. It features insights from entrepreneurs and investors who have identified opportunities in various sectors such as food processing, hospitality, agribusiness, construction, healthcare, fashion, and packaging, highlighting the potential for growth and the demand for quality and sustainable products and services.

Businesspeople and investors see significant potential in the building materials and services industry across Africa. In Nigeria, there is a demand for both low-cost and high-end building materials. Côte d’Ivoire's construction industry growth has attracted investment in air-conditioning solutions. In Kenya, Ascent Capital Africa has invested in companies like Kisumu Concrete and Metro Plastics, which produce essential building products. These investments are driven by local demand and the inefficiency of importing such products.

Investors in Africa identify seven industries they are hesitant to invest in due to various challenges. These include bottled water, Kenyan real estate, commodity crops, forestry, fishing and mining in Namibia, consumer lending, and oil and gas companies in Nigeria. Reasons range from lack of expertise and market maturity to high costs and regulatory uncertainties. Despite these reservations, investors see potential in other areas such as lower-end real estate in Kenya and SME finance.

David Owino, founding partner of Ascent Capital Africa, discusses investment opportunities in Ethiopia, emphasizing the country's young population, economic growth, and potential as a manufacturing hub. Investments in healthcare diagnostics, chemical production, and plastic packaging are highlighted, with companies like International Clinical Laboratories and Allied Chemicals showing significant potential and growth. Challenges such as forex availability are noted, but the long-term outlook for investors is positive, with Ethiopia positioned as a gateway to the African market.

Private equity investors identify significant business and investment opportunities across Africa, focusing on sectors such as logistics in Namibia, industrial warehousing for e-commerce, private education in Nigeria and Ghana, manufacturing in East Africa, regional digital banking platforms, high-quality agricultural produce in Ethiopia, casual dining chains, and packaged foods in Nigeria. Key stakeholders emphasize the potential for growth and the need for quality and scale in these sectors.

World Bicycle Day on June 3 celebrates the bicycle's two centuries of use as a simple, affordable, reliable, clean, and environmentally sustainable means of transportation. In Nairobi, Kenya, Isaac Tindi, who lost his job due to COVID-19 business closures, now uses his bicycle as a taxi to provide for his family.

An Ivorian entrepreneur who transitioned from banking to owning several pastry shops in Abidjan shares his insights on successfully changing careers and maintaining a business.