Brand South Africa Blog

From today’s Washington Post: “Foreign investment is pouring into the continent at unprecedented rates, doubling in recent years to around $39 billion, according to U.N. figures. In recent months, some investors have even appeared convinced that Africa might be a safer spot to sink their money than the shakier U.S. and European markets.”

A trade and investment mission headed by Iqbal Sharma, deputy director general for trade and investment at the Department of Trade and Industry traveled to the US Midwest on Monday. Message: “China and India are on everyone’s lips. The next market that will be on everyone’s lips is Africa.” Click below to hear Sharma’s presentation to the Minnesota-South Africa Business Council in Minneapolis. Follow along with the presentation.

 

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Ignoring Africa today is like not investing in emerging markets in the 1990s, Southeast Asia in the 1970s and 1980s and Japan in the 1950s, argues Frances Beddington, head of research at Insparo Asset Management, a London-based hedge fund, in the Financial Times.

A new fund sees promise in African property development as values fall in developed markets. Money quote:

“There is a new middle class fuelled by the commodities boom with nowhere to spend their money. With mature markets now generally heading south, there is the chance to tap into this growth.”