South Africa Investment and Finance
Why Invest in South Africa? Investing in South Africa Public Investment in South Africa Private Investment in South Africa South African Economy South African Political Risk South African Investment Incentives Regulations and Exchange Controls Key South Africa Investment Terms Trends and Growth in South Africa Additional South Africa ResourcesWhy Invest in South Africa?
The South Africa of today is one of the most sophisticated and promising emerging markets globally. The unique combination of a highly developed first-world economic infrastructure and a huge emergent market economy has given rise to a strong entrepreneurial and dynamic investment environment.
South Africa is the economic powerhouse of the African continent, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of R1,9 trillion (US$283bn) - four times that of its Southern African neighbors, and comprising 30% of the entire GDP of Africa.
The World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report 2008/09 of the World Economic Forum, ranked South Africa 45th out of 134 global nations. South Africa's GDP grew at a healthy 5.2 % in 2007 and a lower 3.1% in 2008, due to the impact of the global economic crisis.
South Africa is one of the most sophisticated and promising emerging markets, offering a unique combination of highly-developed first world economic infrastructure, with a vibrant emerging market economy. South Africa is also one of the highest ranking developing economies and surpasses countries such as Hungary, Italy, Brazil and Thailand. The country leads the continent in industrial output (40% of Africa's total output) and mineral production (45% of total mineral production) and generates most of Africa's electricity (over 50%). (Why Invest in South Africa - Read More)
Investment Insights
A Growing Consensus Regarding Invesment Opportunities in AfricaMonday, August 09, 2010
The excellent business and investment prospects of Africa are being recognized publicly, finally. I believe there are five compelling reasons why all investors should take a serious look at Africa:
The Africonomist Presents: Q&A with Clifford Sacks of Renaissance Capital
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Moscow-based Renaissance Capital (RenCap), an emerging markets investment bank, is on a mission to build its footprint across the African continent. The person leading that charge is Clifford Sacks, former CEO of Merrill Lynch South Africa.
Sacks, who is currently RenCap’s CEO of South Africa and head of Pan African Equities, recently spoke to Africonomist editor David Dankwa about the bank’s investment interests and priorities in Africa and why he thinks the continent is poised to become an important growth factory globally.
Senegal Delegation in Chicago, Illinois
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Senegal’s President Abdoulaye Wade led a delegation of his government’s ministers to Chicago this past week, where they met with some 90 businesses. The four-day trade mission was part of President Wade’s year-long celebration of Senegal’s 50 years of independence and was designed to bring additional foreign investment to the West African nation.
» Visit our Blog to read more.
Financial and Economic News
Nigeria: Govt Still Repaying 50-Year-Old LoansMonday, September 06, 2010
Some of the loans Nigeria is currently re-paying were obtained immediately after the nation attained independence in October 1960, according to Dr Abraham Nwankwo, Director-General of the Debts Management Office (DMO).
South Africa: President's Nephew Sells DR Congo Oil Rights
Monday, September 06, 2010
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma 's nephew Khulubuse Zuma is reliably understood to have sold on his disputed rights - thought to be worth tens of millions of dollars - to oilfields in the Democratic Republic of Congo, only four months after gaining them in a controversial battle with Tullow Oil, a UK prospector and oil producer.
Africa: The African Economic Renaissance - Opportunities for Mauritius (Part I)
Sunday, September 05, 2010
"Lions on the move: The progress and Potential of African Economies". This is the title of a report prepared by the internationally reputed Mc Kinsey Global Institute. It is a must to read for all those who have doubts about the future of Africa.
Zimbabwe: Central Bank Goes Mining
Saturday, September 04, 2010
A MINING joint-venture deal which turned sour has exposed how the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has been involved in the extraction and processing of diamonds and gold in the Midlands, the Zimbabwe Independent can reveal.
Mozambique: After Riots, Life in Maputo Returning to Normal
Saturday, September 04, 2010
After the massive disruption caused by last week's food riots, Maputo was returning to normal on Saturday morning.
Source of news: southafrica.info
Featured Video
Video: South Africa in the spotlight: An interview with Kgalema Motlanthe
South Africa's deputy president discusses the state of the country's economy, the social responsibility of multinationals, and China's role on the continent. Source: McKinsey & Company
At-A-Glance
Official name:
Republic of South Africa (the)
Capital:
Pretoria
Population:
49,052,489 (est. 2009)
Area:
1,219,912 sq.km.
Currency:
Rand (ZAR)
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$495.1 billion (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 26
GDP (official exchange rate):
$280.6 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.8% (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 141
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$10,100 (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 107
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 32.1%
services: 64.4% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
17.32 million economically active (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 35
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 26%
services: 65% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 82
Public debt:
35.7% of GDP (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 72
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.2% (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 166
Central bank discount rate:
11.5% (31 December 2008)
Country comparison to the world: 32
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15.13% (31 December 2008)
Country comparison to the world: 63
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$491.3 billion (31 December 2008)
Country comparison to the world: 16
Agriculture - products:
corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; beef, poultry, mutton, wool, dairy products
Industries:
mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textiles, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs, commercial ship repair
Current account balance:
$-15.6 billion (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 179
Exports:
$67.93 billion (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 38
Exports - partners:
Japan 11.1%, US 11.1%, Germany 8%, UK 6.8%, China 6%, Netherlands 5.2% (2008)
Imports:
$70.24 billion (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 35
Imports - partners:
Germany 11.2%, China 11%, US 7.8%, Saudi Arabia 6.2%, Japan 5.5% (2008)
Exchange rates:
Rand (ZAR) per US dollar - 8.54 (2009), 7.9576 (2008), 7.05 (2007), 6.7649 (2006), 6.3593 (2005)
