Capital Allocators – Inside the Institutional Investment Industry Colin Smith and Farouk Miah - Empty Rooms: Investing in Africa (Capital Allocators, EP. 279)
Nov 7, 2022
Colin Smith, an Olympic silver medalist and co-founder of All Africa Partners, and Farouk Miah, also a co-founder with a focus on emerging markets, dive into Africa's investment landscape. They discuss the continent's immense market potential, highlighting specific countries like Kenya and Nigeria while navigating the challenges of economic fluctuations and liquidity issues. The duo details their rigorous selection process for investments, emphasizing due diligence and regional dynamics. They also share valuable life lessons from Colin’s Olympic experience, tying resilience to the investment journey.
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Colin's Path to Finance
- Colin Smith, raised in Zimbabwe, developed a fascination for stock markets by watching commodity prices.
- His Olympic silver medal in rowing led him to the UK, where he transitioned into finance after retiring from sports.
Farouk's Background
- Farouk Miah's family has Bangladeshi heritage, but he was raised in the UK and studied economics at Cambridge.
- With a background in public equities and emerging markets, his career has spanned London, Saudi Arabia, and now focuses on Africa.
Hyperinflation's Impact
- Growing up in Zimbabwe during hyperinflation taught Colin Smith the importance of taking currency risk seriously.
- Witnessing destructive government policies firsthand shaped his cautious approach to investing in certain African markets.
