World map with Africa glowing Copyrighted imageCredit: Axstokes | Dreamstime.com World map with Africa glowing What are the challenges of doing business in and out of Africa? The continent consists of 54 countries and has more than a billion people but it was a sleeping giant for decades. Now it's woken up, could it be on the verge of becoming the economic powerhouse of the 21st Century?

In the studio this week are:

  • Andrew Rugasira, CEO of the Ugandan coffee company Good African Coffee.
  • Herman Chinery-Hesse, co-founder of the Ghanian software company SOFTtribe.
  • Rupert Soames, CEO of the temporary power specialists Aggreko.

This edition of The Bottom Line is first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday 21st February 2013 at 8.30pm. Versions will also be broadcast on BBC World Service, BBC World and BBC News Channel. To find out more, or to listen online where available, pelase visit bbc.co.uk.

More from this week's guests

The Bill Gates of Africa Featuring: Video Creative commons imageCredit: The Open University

Herman Chinery-Hesse, co-founder of the Ghanian software company theSOFTtribe, discusses software development in Africa.  Watch now: The Bill Gates of Africa

Jumping the hurdles of entrepreneurship Featuring: Video Creative commons imageCredit: The Open University

Andrew Rugasira, CEO of the Ugandan coffee company Good African Coffee, discusses entrepreneurship in Africa.  Watch now: Jumping the hurdles of entrepreneurship

More from The Bottom Line

OU on the BBC: The Bottom Line Copyrighted imageCredit: BBC

Evan Davis gets to the heart of the big finance stories - by talking to the people who take the decisions that touch all our...  Read more : OU on the BBC: The Bottom Line

Find out what the OU Business School can do for you Copyrighted imageCredit: Dreamstime

Realise your full potential, wherever you are. From MBAs to introduction to financial services, the Open University Business School has it covered.  Read more : Find out what the OU Business School can do for you