Mohammed Dewji & I at the Invest Africa, Standard Chartered Bank private dinner.
Last October, before moderating a panel at the Global Business Forum in Dubai, I was invited to the Invest Africa - sponsored by Standard Chartered - private dinner at the glitzy Arts Club ($75,000 per year membership - no I am not a member but know a few people who are). I was the co-speaker alongside Tanzanian billionaire Mohammed Dewji (president of MeTL Group). Whilst I can't tell you who was in the room, what I can say is they were some of the Titans and financiers of traditional African industries. Even at 40, I was the youngest there (well, other than my +1).
A representative from the Dubai Chamber of commerce dropped a really apt slogan that has stuck with me all these months. What's good for Business is good for Dubai. It feels like the polar opposite to what is happening across Africa in terms of regulation and tax policies. Everything feels ill thought out and super restrictive ...