Africa Business Panel publishes First Africa Business Confidence Index

[Bas Vlugt]

Manufacturing index 63.88 and non-manufacturing index 61.33 both indicating expansion

Africa Business Panel has published the first pan African Business Confidence Index  (ABCI). The index measures business confidence in the manufacturing and non-manufacturing private sector throughout Africa. Results are published on a monthly basis.

January’s results indicate confidence and growth with an index of 63.88 and 61.33 for the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors respectively. A level of 50 and above indicates expansion. 955 business professionals from 42 countries in Africa participated in the survey making the results a reliable gauge and early indicator of the underlying economic activity on the African continent.

“We are delighted to present results for the first pan African Business Confidence Index. The level of participation across the African continent is a good indication of trends and activity across the private sector in Africa and will contribute to the outlook and reputation of Africa as a place to do business”, says Bas Vlugt, partner and co-founder of Africa Business Panel.

The ABCI follows a similar methodology and logic as the PMI indices which set the global standard. Members of the African Business Panel are business professionals and entrepreneurs working in Africa’s private sector. On a monthly basis they are invited to report change from the previous month on the following indicators: new orders, production, employment, supplier deliveries and inventories for the manufacturing sector and business activity, new orders, employment and supplier deliveries for the non-manufacturing sector.   For more information on the survey and index methodology please visit www.africabusinesspanel.com

 

Survey Highlights:

• First private sector business confidence index for the African continent
• 955 African business professionals from 42 countries in Africa participated in survey
• Manufacturing sector confidence index 63.88; non-manufacturing 61.33
• These levels indicate expansion for manufacturing and non- manufacturing sectors
• Senior level participants from 337 African companies with revenues of more than $ 100.000 and 17 with revenues of more than $ 1 billion

About Africa Business Panel

Africa Business Panel (ABP) is a joint initiative of Africa Business Communities (www.africabusinesscommunities.com) , a fast-growing network of African entrepreneurs and business professionals, and NarrowMinds (www.narrowminds.com), a leading architect of online market research and loyalty programs.

Africa Business Panel generates reliable indices on business developments and economic outlook in Africa and in doing so wishes to contribute to the continent’s business reputation and produce in-depth market research data for governments, the business community and international organizations.  Africa Business Panel provides intelligent matches for African business professionals with the rest of the world offering promising business opportunities.

About  the Panel

Business professionals based in Africa are invited to join the Africa Business Panel. As a member of the Panel your insights and opinions directly contribute to the Africa Business Confidence Index.  Panel members benefit by participating:  the outcome of the survey results are shared with Panel members directly and in greater detail than with non-members. All surveys are permission based, allowing members to decide when and to what degree they wish to participate. Personal details are treated strictly confidentially by the African Business Panel. No personal information is ever published or sold to third parties.

We encourage African business people to join the Panel at www.africabusinesspanel.com so they can shine their light on the business climate in Africa.