非洲可能是美国企业的大好商机

While the U.S. economy continues to slump and company stocks plunge, trade and development experts are advising U.S. businesses of all sizes to start investing in Africa, a continent with many opportunities and growth potential.

在美国经济持续不振，股票市场暴跌之际，贸易和发展专家建议美国大小企业都应该到非洲投资，他们认为非洲大陆有很多机会和发展潜力。

A promotion for an upcoming October Washington U.S.-Africa business meeting organized by the Corporate Council on Africa makes a convincing sales pitch.

由美国非洲企业理事会筹组的美国非洲商业会议将在10月举行。

"Thousands of untapped markets, a vibrant and diverse continent with one of the most promising business environments in the world today, the continent of Africa is a place where smart companies invest."

这次活动的广告词非常吸引人：“数以千计没有开发的市场，蓬勃多元的大陆，当今全球最有前途的经商环境之一，聪明的公司会在非洲大陆投资！”

Far away from Africa, in the central U.S. state of Indiana, in the city of Columbus, a representative for the Cummins engine-making company gives a tour of headquarters.

远离非洲来到美国中部印第安州的哥伦布市，制造引擎的康明斯公司的代表在公司总部为来访者作导览。

"We are inside the Cummins corporate office," said the representative. "Look at the wonderful sculpture that they have here, made of, what else would one except, engine parts for diesel engines."

他说：“我们在康明斯公司的办公室里。看看这个美好的雕塑，用的材料让人意想不到，这是用柴油引擎零件作的。”

The company recently decided to put more focus on Africa, especially in Nigeria where it is trying to become a leader in selling generators.

这家公司最近决定把更多重心放在非洲，特别是尼日利亚，这家公司希望能在发电机销售上领先。

Another company looking more and more at Nigeria is the family-owned Louisiana-based dredging equipment company DSC Dredge. The company used to deal with Africa only through unsolicited emails but is now considering opening an office in Lagos.

另外一家越来越有意在尼日利亚投资的公司是设在路易斯安纳州的拖泥船设备公司DSC。这个家庭企业过去只通过广告电子邮件来和非洲企业打交道，现在这家公司正考虑在拉各斯开设办事处。

The Africa expert at the Washington-based Atlantic Council J. Peter Pham says these companies know what they are doing.

设在华盛顿的大西洋理事会非洲事务专家法姆(J. Peters Pham) 说，这些公司知道他们在做什么。

"Certainly Africa is open for business and especially if companies are willing to invest for the long term I think there is a very healthy rate of return to be had in Africa," said Pham.

他说：“非洲肯定为商业开放。尤其是如果公司愿意长期投资。我认为这些公司会在非洲得到很合理的投资回报。”

African economies are expected to grow on average by 6 to 7 percent in the coming years. Among countries with the most growth potential, there is new oil producer Ghana, with a national economy expected to grow over 14 percent this year.

非洲经济体预期在未来几年里平均有6％到7％的成长率。经济增长最有潜力的国家之一是新的产油国－加纳。今年加纳的全国经济预期将有超过14％的增长率。

Chinese companies, many with state backing or their government's help, have been very aggressive in Africa in recent years.

近年来，中国公司一直非常积极的在非洲经营，很多这些公司有政府的支持，或得到政府的帮助。The International Monetary Fund says China's exports to Africa last year totaled $54 billion, while U.S. exports were at a much lower $21 billion.

Many major U.S. companies have had a foothold in Africa for years, led by soft drink maker Coca-Cola, and more recently other major U.S. companies are following, like Microsoft, IBM, Google, Procter and Gamble, General Electric, Boeing, Harley-Davidson, Wal-Mart and Caterpillar, to name a few. Companies with oil and mining interests have had a steady presence as well.

很多美国大公司已经在非洲立足多年。带头的是软饮料制造商可口可乐公司。最近，其他的大公司也相继跟进，例如微软公司、国际商业机器公司IBM、谷歌公司、宝洁公司、通用电器公司、波音公司、哈雷－戴维森公司、沃尔玛，以及卡特彼勒公司等等。与石油和矿产有关的美国公司也持续在非洲投资。

Development experts say smaller companies which have something to offer for Africa's growing middle class and infrastructure needs should also take a close look. A former U.S. ambassador in Africa, David Shinn, says the U.S. government should do more to help nervous companies take their first steps.

开发专家说，能为非洲越来越多的中产阶级提供商品或迎合非洲基础设施需要的较小规模公司也应该密切注意非洲市场。前美国驻埃塞俄比亚大使大卫.辛表示，美国政府应该采取更多措施，帮助美国公司走出第一步。

"Part of it is cajoling the American private sector, having perhaps a major conference led by the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Commerce or the president even to bring in potential investors and encouraging them to go to Africa," said Shinn.

他说：“吸引美国民间企业的部分做法或许可以是举行一次大型会议，由国务卿、商业部长或总统主持，甚至可以请来可能的投资者，并且鼓励他们到非洲去。”

J. Peter Pham from the Atlantic Council says U.S. entrepreneurs unfamiliar with the continent have mostly negative perceptions.

大西洋理事会的非洲事务专家拉姆说，不熟悉非洲的美国企业家对非洲有很大的负面感受。

"Often the news coverage out of Africa is all about disasters, natural or human and other calamities, and not about the opportunities for economic growth for actually for profit in a win-win situation," he said.

拉姆说：“通常对非洲的新闻报导都是灾难，天灾、人祸或者其他灾害，而不是经济增长机会让企业确实能在双赢的情况下赚到钱。”

Increasing tax incentives, as well as the number of commercial staff members at U.S. embassies which has dropped in recent years, are some of the ideas being proposed by trade experts to help smaller U.S. companies better tackle Africa as a business opportunity.

提高税务奖励办法，以及增加美国大使馆的商务办事人员是贸易专家提出的部分构想。专家希望希望能借这些办法帮助美国公司较好地掌握非洲商机。