African Business Guide

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Internet Sources: DATABASES AND INFORMATION SERVICES

• Africa Biz Online
  http://www.africabiz.org/Default.aspx?pageId=171402

  "An online business opportuntities newsletter on investing and trade in 48 African countries."

• Energy Net
  http://www.energynet.co.uk/

  From the ThE-InfoSite link on the home page, users can locate energy profiles, maps and news relating to African countries, along with energy-related tenders & contracts.

• African Business Information Services (AfBis)
  http://www.afbis.com

  "An online source of information and analysis on business and economy in Africa."

• GLOBUS (Global Business Opportunities)
  http://guides.ucf.edu/content.php?pid=141826&sid=1209051

  GLOBUS was part of the STAT-USA database of the Department of Commerce which ceased to exist in September, 2010. University of Central Florida libraries subject guide provides links to data sources which were used by the Department of Commerce to provide information on the STAT-USA website.

• Index on Africa
  http://www.afrika.no/index

  "Index on Africa is a gateway to information on Africa on the Internet, with over 2,000 links sorted by country, subject and news."

• IPAnet Investment Promotion Networkt
  http://www.ipanet.net

  "Established in 1995 as part of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA's) mandate to enhance foreign direct investment (FDI) in developing regions, the Investment Promotion Network (IPAnet) is the leading international investment-specific portal website providing free access to online foreign investment and privatization resources. IPAnet provides an extensive searchable database of over 10,000 web-based documents which include research on economies and product markets, investment- related laws and treaties to specific investment opportunities. These resources, catalogued by country, sector and topic, are obtained primarily from the World Bank Group, investment promotion agencies and privatization agencies. The IPAnet business directories comprise contact information for over 30,000 organizations and individuals involved in foreign investment."

• LEXAFRICA
  http://www.mbendi.co.za/werksmns/lexaf/

  "A network of law firms in Africa."

• Market Access Database
  http://madb.europa.eu/mkaccdb2/indexPubli.htm

  This site, a service by the European Commission, consists of a number of databases that cover a large number of countries. Access to Sectoral and Trade Barriers Database, SPS Database, Statistics and Studies sections is free. However, information under the Exporters Guide and Applied Tariffs is only available to users connecting for any of the 15 European Union member states. Site contains a vast amount of information on the African countries. Select links to the individual databases from the main page.

• MBendi Information for Africa
  http://www.mbendi.co.za/

  "Africa's leading business website ... site provides information on business opportunities in the African countries, the companies and organizations active in various industry sectors, the leading business and government personalities, a directory of products, services, and development projects, details of conferences and exhibitions, and information on African capital markets."

• Privitization Link
  http://www.privatizationlink.com

  "Service offered by MIGA providing online access to business profiles ofs tate-owned companies, details of country investment regulations, and other business and financial data."

• UNIDO Industrial Development Abstracts Database
  http://www.unido.org/IDA.htmls

  "The Industrial Development Abstracts (IDA) is an important source of information on the activities of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to assist industrialization in developing countries."

• U.S. Census Bureau. International Data Base
  http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idb/

  "The International Data Base (IDB) offers a variety of demographic indicators for countries and areas of the world with a population of 5,000 or more. The IDB has provided access to demographic data for over 25 years to governments, academics, other organizations, and the public. It is funded by organizations that sponsor the research of the Census Bureau's International Programs Center."

• U.S. Department of Commerce. National Trade Data Bank
  Resource list from University of Central Florida Libraries
  http://guides.ucf.edu/content.php?pid=29950&sid=1209205

  The NTDB (National Trade Data Bank) used to be part of STAT-USA which ceased to exist after September 30, 2010. The UCF Libraries list provides links to sources on Market & Country research, Daily Trade & Procurement Leads, and the International Trade Library.

• U.S. Department of Commerce. Trade Information Center
  http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/tic/

  Specialists provide information on foreign market research, export financing, export documentation, overseas trade events, and state and local export assistance resources.

• OHADA Compendium of Texts and Overviews
  http://www.jurisint.org

  Site provides access to international trade law information for the African countries. In French and English

• OPIC Investor's Information Gateway
  http://www.opic.gov

  Provides links to websites and documents providing economic, business, political and social data for the African countries doing business with OPIC.

• OT Africa Line
  http://www.otal.com

  Worldwide shipping services providing port news information, as well as, political and market information on the West Africa countries.

• SADC Information Center Database
  http://www.sadc-online.com

  Online database provides economic, business, political and social data for the SADC member countries.

• World Bank Africa Live Database
  http://www4.worldbank.org/afr/stats/ldb.cfm

  "A comprehensive database of macroeconomic and sectoral indicators for the sub-Saharan African countries. The database allows data to be viewed by country as well as by indicator and allows ranking, charting and benchmarking. It is designed to provide decision makers in Africa, both within and outside government, easier access to the latest development data for more informed decision making."

• World Bank World Development Indicators Database
  http://www.worldbank.org/data/dataquery.html

  An extensive collection of social, economic and financial indicators.