Panel: Unlocking Opportunities: Franchising as a Gateway to U.S - Africa Business Expansion
The session, moderated by Bintou Kabore-Zerbo, Executive Director of the Institutional Investor Network, focused on franchising as a strategic vehicle for U.S.–Africa business expansion. Panelists Igoh Ricardo de Pina Lima, Executive Director of Fundo Soberano de Angola, David Okhumale, Founding Principal of DIEO Ventures LLC, and Chuck Morrison, Chairman and CEO of Precis Solar, Inc., discussed how franchising can minimize entry risks for U.S. companies while promoting brand consistency, knowledge transfer, and shared investment responsibilities.
This session highlighted the importance of market preparation and ecosystem development, noting Angola’s evolving regulatory framework and the role of sovereign wealth in supporting strategic sectors furthermore it emphasized the challenges African franchisees face in accessing capital and suggested blended finance models, public-private partnerships, and diaspora capital mobilization as solutions.The panelists alsodiscussed integrating sustainable infrastructure, such as solar energy, within franchise networks to enhance operational efficiency and attract green investment
The panel agreed on the need to adapt franchise models to local consumer behaviors and business cultures, recommending joint ventures and co-branding to improve local acceptance. Overall, the session underscored that franchising offers a scalable pathway for U.S. businesses to expand into Africa, foster knowledge transfer, and create jobs, while investment readiness, infrastructure, and cross-sector collaboration remain critical to success.
