South Africa Investment and Finance

Why 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

Youth Employment in Africa: An Interview with Dr. Shanta Devarajan—Part II
Friday, November 30, 2012
Dr. Shanta Devarajan, the chief economist of the Africa Region with the World Bank, recently sat down with emerging market investment consultant Wilmot Allen to discuss youth employment in sub-Saharan Africa. Part II appears today; Part I appeared on Wednesday.

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Youth Employment in Africa: An Interview with Dr. Shanta Devarajan—Part I
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Dr. Shanta Devarajan, the chief economist of the Africa Region with the World Bank, recently sat down with emerging market investment consultant Wilmot Allen to discuss youth employment in sub-Saharan Africa. Part I of the interview series will appear today; Part II will appear on Friday.

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Africa’s Green Eggs and (Chicken)
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Chicken is what is known as a Fast-Moving Consumer Good (FMCG) or Consumer Packaged Good (CPG). FMCG’s are the buzz across Africa now. Investors are seeking opportunities to take advantage of this rapidly growing market.

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» Visit our Blog to read more.

Financial and Economic News

Africa: The Diaspora Can Help Fuel Rwanda's Technology and Digital Ambitions
Saturday, May 18, 2013
[African Arguments]As Rwanda day 2013 comes to London for the first time, let me take this opportunity to talk about the role that the Rwandan business community in the diaspora can playing by embracing the creation of Rwanda startup culture and make a difference in creating much needed jobs at the same time benefiting from the growth of the ICT sector.

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Nigeria: Cell Phone Service Cut in Borno, Yobe
Friday, May 17, 2013
[Daily Trust]Yola/Maiduguri/Damaturu/Abuja -Mobile phone service was turned off yesterday in Borno and Yobe, stifling social life and business activities in two of the three states affected by the proclamation of state of emergency on Tuesday.

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Madagascar: Microcredit Helps Small Businesses Buck the System
Friday, May 17, 2013
[IRIN]Toliara -Justine Sija, 60, begins her day at 4am, when she buys catch from local fishermen to hawk on the streets of St Augustin Village, in Madagascar's southern Atsimo-Andrefana Region. The work is hard, but in the last year, access to microcredit has boosted both her business and her hope for the future.

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Kenya: GMO Ban Has No Legal Basis, Official Says
Friday, May 17, 2013
[SciDev.Net]Nairobi -A senior Kenyan government official has dismissed last year's ban on the import of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the country - calling it ill-advised and lacking the backing of law.

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Zuma, Putin push for increased trade
Friday, May 17, 2013
South African President Jacob Zuma and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the strengthening of economic ties and expansion of trade between the two BRICS partners during their meeting in Sochi, Russia on Thursday.

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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)
 

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