Doing Deals – Investor Perspectives from Uganda, Ethiopia and Tanzania

Our Partner Abdulrahman Said participates as one of the panelists for EAVCA Webinar on current investor perspectives in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda. The webinar was attended by 400+ attendees.

Some key takeaways:

1. Regional Diversity in Current Situation:

There are very prominent differences in the current situation across the region. Things have largely returned to normal in Tanzania, Uganda remains subject to some challenging (albeit recently relaxed) lockdown restrictions and Ethiopia sits somewhere between the two.

2. Regional Resilience:

East Africa is extremely resilient and likely to emerge from this crisis faster and more powerfully than almost any other region of the world.

3. Private Equity Perspective:

For PE – any company that has survived the last few months will be highly regarded.

4. New Investor Interest:

As economic conditions continue to deteriorate globally – we can expect to see a new class of investors attracted to East Africa and its strong growth trajectory. It is imperative they get the right advice from the outset.

Investment Climate Analysis by Country:

Tanzania:

• Stable political environment
• Consistent economic policies
• Growing industrial base
• Strong agricultural sector
• Improving infrastructure

Uganda:

• Recovery from pandemic restrictions
• Strong entrepreneurial ecosystem
• Regional trade hub potential
• Natural resource opportunities

Ethiopia:

• Large domestic market
• Manufacturing potential
• Infrastructure development needs
• Political transition considerations

Strategic Recommendations for Investors:

• Conduct thorough due diligence
• Engage local advisory services
• Focus on resilient business models
• Consider ESG factors
• Plan for long-term commitment

Abdul was joined by other panelists from Ethiopia and Uganda.