Business Council for Africa

Formerly the West Africa Business Association ~ Southern Africa Business Forum (WABA~SABF)

BCA Home Page >>

Welcome to the website of the Business Council for Africa (BCA), formerly the West Africa Committee which was established in 1956.Click here for a short history of BCA. Discover how BCA is organised.

BCA is a group of over 350 companies and entrepreneurs having interests in West and/or Southern Africa, and closely linked with the EU through its membership of the Business Council for Africa UK (BCA UK) which is part of the European Business Council for Africa and the Mediterranean (EBCAM) and is closely associated with the Britain Nigeria Business Council (BNBC)

BCA's Mission is to:

Assist members to transact business successfully in the sub regions, to the benefit of both members and the countries in which they are active. This is achieved through five main areas of activity:

Information - Sourcing and dissemination of authoritative information on the countries comprising the two regions, covering commercial, economic and political intelligence via confidential, economic and political reports and regular business briefings, including with VIPs. Click below for an example of a recent West Africa Regional Report:
Regional Report for April 09

Networking - Promotion of networking opportunities for members, drawing together offshore businessmen, their counterparts in West, Central and Southern Africa and luminaries in the regions' governments and public sectors. Click here for meetings programme

Influence & Advocacy - Propagation of the views of members on improving the business environment in the regions to both local and offshore governments. Also discreet lobbying of these governments and international organisations on behalf of the collective membership. Click here for full membership lists in UK and the Regions

Help - Practical assistance to members doing business in the regions, including administrative problems (e.g. visas and airport pick-ups), specific business arrangements (e.g. intervention, often at Ministerial and Ambassadorial level), and access to certain advantageous arrangements in local hotels etc. Click to enlarge Map of Regional Representation in the BCA areas of influence

Promotion - Positive promotion of member companies through the Associations' website, publications and events through the year, together with contacts in the media and other important trade, business, lobbying and African interested bodies.

STOP PRESS

Nigeria introduces Cargo Tracking Notes (CTN) for all cargo going to / from Nigeria.

It has been confirmed that a Cargo Tracking Note [CTN] will be required for all cargo to/from Nigeria effective 11/01/10. According to the Nigerian Port Authority [NPA] there will be no penalties on any cargo arriving without a CTN before 01/03/10.
There are major cost implications pertaining to this new requirement and the government is being actively lobbied to reverse or amend these regulations. BCA has asked the BCA Nigeria Office to play an advocacy role in this regard and we understand that the Nigerian media will shortly be briefed accordingly.
Up to date information on this matter is available from OT Africa Line (OTAL) and their website may be viewed at www.otal.com

BCA's Nigeria Desk will continue to monitor this matter and keep members abreast of developments.

Please see the meetings page for more details of forthcoming events available to members of BCA.

News/Diplomatic Moves >>

Today's News from The BBC

Can you afford not to be a member? >>

Benefits of membership

How to apply (PDF)

How to apply (Word Document)

Contact us

A Company Limited by Guarantee in England & Wales Registration No: 3753986 VAT No: 512 514 388