Africa

Rising to the Digital Challenge in Africa

Africa’s digital maturity trails other regions, but its digital adoption is rapid. To maintain momentum, companies and governments need to coordinate to build scale, nurture talent and build innovation hubs.

How Online Marketplaces Can Power Employment in Africa

Collaboration between governments and online marketplaces will help these digital platforms create jobs and spur growth across the continent.

Pioneering One Africa

Despite multiple barriers, economic integration in Africa is not only taking place, but also gathering speed. The primary drivers of this process are African businesses.

Lessons from Business Pioneers in Africa

Companies operating in Africa still face significant challenges—and stand to learn a great deal from successful early pioneers. BCG’s Lisa Ivers discusses.

Drawing a Route to Market for Multinationals in Africa

Many of Africa’s 54 individual markets are growing fast. To serve them, multinationals need to plan carefully and tailor execution to distinct and complex circumstances.

Improving Financial Inclusion in South Africa

Financial inclusion, which is linked to family prosperity, GDP growth, and reduced poverty rates, can help build a more promising future for South Africa.

The Private Equity Opportunity in Africa

Private equity is growing significantly in Africa. To be successful, firms need to adopt new investment strategies.

Why Africa Remains Ripe for Private Equity

Africa is a great growth opportunity for private equity funds that can adapt to the continent’s evolving needs and consider new types of targets.

African Consumer Sentiment 2019: Optimism and an Eagerness to Spend

It has been a tough few years in many parts of the continent. That hasn’t made a dent in Africans’ desire to buy new things.

African Consumer Sentiment 2016: The Promise of New Markets

A poll of more than 11,000 consumers in 11 African countries reveals their attitudes; their budgeting and spending behaviors; and how their income levels affect what they buy.

Unlocking Nigeria’s Potential: The Path to Well-Being

Nigeria boasts natural resources and a young, entrepreneurial population. Specific improvements in infrastructure, education, and health will help the country harness those advantages.

Asia

Capitalizing on Asia’s Booming Upper Middle Class

Companies looking for growth in slowing Asian economies should aim for the upper-middle-class. There are approximately 150 million upper-middle-class consumers in the developing countries of Asia right now—accounting for more than $3 trillion in spending annually. And this number could easily swell by 100 million or more in the next few years.

Brazil

Six Strategies for Beating Brazil’s Supply Chain Complexities

For CPG companies, Brazil is a tough market. To run a successful supply chain, they must break some rules and adopt unconventional approaches.

Identifying Consumer Spending Opportunities in Brazil

To find growth opportunities in the midst of Brazil’s current recession, companies can now leverage big data and analyze granular consumer-spending data to adjust their strategies.

Finding Islands of Consumer Spending Opportunity in Brazil's Crisis

Even in the midst of crisis, Brazil has more than 200 million people and many local, regional, and sector-specific economies—each with its own defining characteristics, drivers, and trends.

Shopping in Brazil: The Influence and Potential of Digital

Managers need a comprehensive approach to pursuing strategic priorities amid digital uncertainty in Brazil.

China

The Trillion-Dollar Plan for the New Silk Road

China’s growing One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative means existing players must remain on their toes, innovating, refocusing, and partnering to succeed.

Five Profiles That Explain China’s Consumer Economy

China’s overall economic growth is slowing, but consumption is soaring. Here are the megatrends and shopping behaviors that companies need to understand in order to succeed in a market worth trillions of dollars.

China’s Consumers Stay the (Slightly Slower) Course

Despite economic volatility, consumers’ spending patterns in China are holding up: good news for companies that understand the shifts underway.

Listening to What Chinese Consumers Say About Insurers

In light of the power shift away from insurers in China, BCG asked 3,200 consumers what is essential in a life insurance or an auto insurance provider. Trust and simplicity top the list.

Cuba

Taking the Long View on Cuba's Tourism Opportunity

Improved relations with the US have created a potential boom for travel companies. To capitalize, they should invest for the long term and build relationships with Cuba’s government.

Exploring The New Consumer Opportunity in Cuba

Cuban consumers have more discretionary income to spend—but first, companies must understand their culture.

Understanding the Evolving Cuban Consumer

A comprehensive BCG survey looks at the purchasing power, brand preferences, and shopping patterns of Cuba’s consumers and foresees a market that will become increasingly attractive.

What Cuba’s Economic Evolution Means for Multinationals

As US-Cuba relations improve, many companies are showing interest—with good reason. Cuba’s economy has the potential for significant growth in the long term.

India

The New Indian: The Many Facets of a Changing Consumer

India is poised to become the third-largest consumer economy by 2025. But behind the growth headlines is an important story of shifting shopping behaviors and spending patterns.

Ten Trends That Are Altering Consumer Behavior in India

Traditional spending habits are giving way to a focus on experiences, customized products, and time-saving services.

Five Surprises About How Indians Shop Online (and Offline)

Retailers must understand changing consumer behavior in India or risk losing out to startups.

Decoding Digital Consumers in India

No technology, no matter how powerful or pervasive, will affect India’s 1 billion consumers—of whom 50% will soon be online—in the same way.

Unlocking Consumer Insights in India

Access to more granular consumer data is the key uncovering powerful insights on India’s future hot spots.

Latin America

Why Multilatinas Hold the Key to Latin America’s Economic Future

The last decade was a turbulent one for Latin America. But these elite companies still achieved above-average growth. Here are the secrets to the multilatinas’ success.

Peru

Peru: Climbing the Andean Heights of Wealth and Well-Being

Despite recent increases in its wealth and the well-being of its people, Peru must make greater effort to improve.

Russia

Russian Consumers and the New Economic Reality

Companies that align their strategies with budget-conscious households will find many opportunities in Russia.

Southeast Asia

How the Digital Revolution Is Integrating Southeast Asia’s Consumers

As Southeast Asians grow more affluent, the rapid spread of digital technologies and social media is binding them together into one of the world’s largest megamarkets.

Beyond the “Crazy Rich”

A regional market of 57 million people is growing rapidly—and it is much more accessible than many companies realize.

Bangladesh: Powering Its Way toward Continued Growth

Bangladesh has provided electricity for over 90% of its population, but the push for higher wattage by 2030 will require a lot of outside investments. Interested investors should develop strategies beyond just one project.

Five Consumer Trends to Watch in Thailand

Thai consumers want experiences and luxuries, and Thai women are making more and more purchasing decisions. Armed with insights into these and other trends, companies can determine where their investments will deliver the biggest payback.

Vietnam and Myanmar Continue to Advance

These two very different countries are at very different stages of economic and political development, but they have similar growth trajectories.

The Expansion of Southeast Asia's Mass Affluents

The Expansion of Southeast Asia's Mass Affluents

Who are Southeast Asia's 57 million mass affluent consumers, and how can businesses appeal to them?

How Digital is Changing the Game in ASEAN

Digitization is increasingly shaping consumers' buying behaviors—and companies will need new strategies for winning in this changed landscape.

Tapping into the Bangladesh Opportunity

BCG’s Zarif Munir discusses the evolution of Bangladesh’s consuming class—and how companies must respond.

Unlocking Growth in Vietnam and Myanmar

The consumer markets in these two Asian economies hold exciting opportunities. But to establish long-term profitable growth, the government and multinationals will need to take unique, differentiated approached.

Who are Southeast Asia's 57 million mass affluent consumers, and how can businesses appeal to them?