Forbes Hails Changes in Africa’s Business Environment

 The vice¹ president of Forbes media says the launch of the Forbes Afrique magazine is a sign of better business possibilities in Africa.

Christopher Forbes said his organization is celebrating free enterprise and the entrepreneurial spirit following the official launch of the Forbes Afrique magazine.

“We are at a unique moment in time [and] there [are] a lot of exciting things happening in Africa. And also things aren’t going so well in the rest of the world that we can’t keep pointing fingers saying we know best,” Forbes said in Brazzaville.

“The moment is right for a magazine like Forbes to be launched here, where we celebrate free enterprise and the entrepreneur spirit because we are seeing that emerge in francophone Africa and in fact throughout Africa.”

He said some African countries are becoming less volatile², which he said is a better environment for business development.

“There is greater stability here, the rest of the world have realized that we didn’t always get it right doing some of the other things that we’ve done. There are natural resources here, but there is also a change in mindset here,” said Forbes. 

 Some analysts³ say Forbes Afrique could face stiff competition from other French language magazines with deeper roots in the francophone countries of Africa.

Forbes magazine has an African English version published in South Africa. But, Mr. Forbes said it was appropriate that French-speaking African countries to have a magazine that addresses business aspects in francophone Africa.

“French speaking Africa needs the capitalist tool as well,” Forbes said.

Officials of the magazine say Forbes Afrique’s readership will include policy makers⁴ and business people and everyone whose ambition drives them to reach positions of responsibility in the business world.

But Forbes also warned potential investors⁵ to make sure they work with reputable businesses in Africa.

“Choose your partners carefully,” he said. “We are very lucky in our partner Mr. [Lucien] Ebata.  I think that’s a key thing. Get the best advice and get to know people on the ground.”

 “It isn’t [only] that these resources can be useful for the rest of the world, they’ve got to be useful for the people living here [in Africa] as well and being enjoyed by a much broader spectrum⁶ of the population.”

He said Forbes Afrique magazine is in Africa to stay.

“When my grandfather started the [Forbes] magazine in 1917, his very first editorial was that business isn’t about pilling up millions, it’s about creating happiness,” said Forbes.

“As long as this generation of entrepreneurs will increasingly … realize that it’s not just about realizing their visions, but their visions enriching the lives of others;  that is a very important part of real capitalism⁷.”

Forbes said the business climate is getting better in African countries, which he said is encouraging to local and international partners looking to invest on the continent.

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

3 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

4 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

6 spectrum   

n.谱，光谱，频谱；范围，幅度，系列

参考例句：

• This is a kind of atomic spectrum.这是一种原子光谱。
• We have known much of the constitution of the solar spectrum.关于太阳光谱的构成，我们已了解不少。

7 capitalism   

n.资本主义

参考例句：

• The essence of his argument is that capitalism cannot succeed.他的论点的核心是资本主义不能成功。
• Capitalism began to develop in Russia in the 19th century.十九世纪资本主义在俄国开始发展。