Zanele Xaba, lead director for Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Awards Programme says, "As Africa enters a new decade, and joins China and India in crossing the billion person mark; business and government leaders have more reason than ever to be optimistic about future growth prospects. With plentiful natural resources, sustained improvements in infrastructure and a desire to be part of the global economy, it is no surprise that Africa is seen by many overseas investors as the land of opportunity. It is only fitting that we now expand our South Africa and Mozambique programs into one Southern Africa program, and we are now calling for nominations from the following countries: Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
"The enormous potential of the African market is further enhanced when you consider the natural entrepreneurial spirit that exists within African people and business leaders. As we have seen within the BRIC economies, building a stable business environment where entrepreneurs can thrive will be a key ingredient of sustained economic success, we are pleased to announce another dimension been added to the competition. Entrepreneurs across Southern, Western and Eastern Africa have, for the first time, been given a global stage from which to compete and be recognised."
Xaba concludes, "The Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Awards is run in over 50 countries and 140 cities around the world. Now in its 25th year globally, World Entrepreneur Awards has become widely acknowledged as the world's leading business award for entrepreneurs.
The awards program provides a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to come together to share insights, develop networks and promote the best of entrepreneurial endeavour in Africa and worldwide."
View the selection criteria.
