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**grizolsemn** · 09-22-2011, 11:11 AM

According to Economists, the rate of return on foreign investment is higher in Africa than in any other developing region. Global executives (except those from Muslims countries) and investors are now paying heed.

The continent’s economic pulse has quickened, infusing the continent with a new commercial vibrancy. Real GDP rose by 4.9 percent a year from 2000 through 2008, more than twice its pace in the 1980s and ’90s. Telecommunications, banking, and retailing are flourishing. Construction is booming. Private-investment inflows are surging.

To be sure, many of Africa’s 50-plus individual economies face serious challenges, including poverty, disease, and high infant mortality. Yet Africa’s collective GDP, at $1.6 trillion in 2008, is now roughly equal to Brazil’s or Russia’s, and the continent is among the world’s most rapidly growing economic regions. This acceleration is a sign of hard-earned progress and promise.

Unfortunately when it comes to Islam propagation it lacks behind the aggressive Christian evangelicals who are winning millions of hearts and minds in the heartland of the continent by focusing on social enterprise investments in education, health and environment. Of course most of these Church based programs are funded by their strong civil societies in the West, but surely I think the continent is quite receptive of foreigners to the extent looks like Chinese and Indians seem to have a massive playing field there but the same cannot be said of investors and social enterprise pioneers from Muslim countries such as Malaysia, UAE, KSA etc. (The only serious Muslim players there are Iranian's and Turkey).

The key reasons behind this growth surge included government action to end armed conflicts, improve macroeconomic conditions, and undertake microeconomic reforms to create a better business climate. To start, several African countries halted their deadly hostilities, creating the political stability necessary to restart economic growth. My travels in most of sub sahara Africa, I didnt find much Muslims or Islam in the hinterland, and when I asked, I was told that most Muslims prefer urban areas and thats the part where the Church takes advantage of the situation by staying closer to the communities. That said, folks like the Islamic Help are doing some fantastic job there but I feel they are mainly in already Muslim areas instead of those where Islam should be seen doing a good job to the communities.

Any thoughts and experiences ?

09-22-2011, 11:11 AM	#1
grizolsemn Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 467 Senior Member	Islam and Muslims situation in Africa According to Economists, the rate of return on foreign investment is higher in Africa than in any other developing region. Global executives (except those from Muslims countries) and investors are now paying heed. The continent’s economic pulse has quickened, infusing the continent with a new commercial vibrancy. Real GDP rose by 4.9 percent a year from 2000 through 2008, more than twice its pace in the 1980s and ’90s. Telecommunications, banking, and retailing are flourishing. Construction is booming. Private-investment inflows are surging. To be sure, many of Africa’s 50-plus individual economies face serious challenges, including poverty, disease, and high infant mortality. Yet Africa’s collective GDP, at $1.6 trillion in 2008, is now roughly equal to Brazil’s or Russia’s, and the continent is among the world’s most rapidly growing economic regions. This acceleration is a sign of hard-earned progress and promise. Unfortunately when it comes to Islam propagation it lacks behind the aggressive Christian evangelicals who are winning millions of hearts and minds in the heartland of the continent by focusing on social enterprise investments in education, health and environment. Of course most of these Church based programs are funded by their strong civil societies in the West, but surely I think the continent is quite receptive of foreigners to the extent looks like Chinese and Indians seem to have a massive playing field there but the same cannot be said of investors and social enterprise pioneers from Muslim countries such as Malaysia, UAE, KSA etc. (The only serious Muslim players there are Iranian's and Turkey). The key reasons behind this growth surge included government action to end armed conflicts, improve macroeconomic conditions, and undertake microeconomic reforms to create a better business climate. To start, several African countries halted their deadly hostilities, creating the political stability necessary to restart economic growth. My travels in most of sub sahara Africa, I didnt find much Muslims or Islam in the hinterland, and when I asked, I was told that most Muslims prefer urban areas and thats the part where the Church takes advantage of the situation by staying closer to the communities. That said, folks like the Islamic Help are doing some fantastic job there but I feel they are mainly in already Muslim areas instead of those where Islam should be seen doing a good job to the communities. Any thoughts and experiences ?
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