The NTU-SBF Centre for African Studies is a unique trilateral platform with government, business and academia. Set up with endowments from five founding donors, Indorama, Olam, PIL, Tolaram, and Wilmar, the center seeks to promote knowledge and expertise on Africa and to accelerate the deepening of business and trade ties between Asia and Africa. The center conducts research, educational, and publishing programs to facilitate the advancement of three key objectives:

• Provide thought leadership on Africa to increase business knowledge and understanding of Africa;
• Build human capital to resource businesses’ engagement and expansion in Africa, educating and nurturing a community of thinkers and doers who are Africa-savvy; and
• Foster an integrated Africa network that cultivates ties among business, political and thought leaders in South-east Asia and Africa to narrow the knowledge gap between both regions.

The center conducts research on Africa along themes including consumer insights, market development strategies, investment opportunities, risk management, corporate governance, and business culture. Such research, along with business case studies on Africa, especially those featuring Asian companies, are published as a knowledge resource for Singapore and Asian businesses. These may be viewed at the African Business Insights web portal (www.ntusbfcas.com). The center also shapes the themes for national Africa-centric business forums in Singapore.

The center also offers executive management education and policy-related programs to develop Africa-savvy management talent for public and private sector organizations. It organizes regular workshops to inform and inspire Asian executives on various aspects of doing business in Africa, as well as conduct immersion trips to Africa for Asian executives and students, and vice versa.

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