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Significance
The platform is currently available in eight sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. Facebook's decision, announced in late June, to set up its first African regional headquarters in Johannesburg underlines its long-term growth ambitions on the continent.
Impacts
Facebook joins multiple other tech giants with Africa expansion plans, including Google, IBM, Microsoft and Phillips.
Some of these firms are partnering with local technology 'hubs', particularly in Nairobi, designed to fuel innovation.
However, the business model for these hubs is ill-defined; much activity remains centred on donor grants over service provision.
Despite weak evidence for effective local innovation, public and private investment flows will likely remain strong.
Keywords:
Africa,
AF,
Ghana,
Kenya,
Nigeria,
South Africa,
United States,
economy,
industry,
foreign investment,
internet
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2015
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