NAIROBI -- To a growing number of foreign investors, sub-Saharan Africa represents much more than the ethnic clashes, coups, bouts of genocide and natural disasters that have scarred many countries in the region. It represents dazzling opportunities to make money.
"If you look at sub-Saharan African markets, they've given annual returns that are substantially better than most around the world," said Ayo Salami, a chief investment officer for Duet, a London-based financial group that inaugurated its first Africa fund in December. "Even this year, most of the economies around the world are not seeing very much growth -- 2 percent would look optimistic. Whereas in Africa, it's been around 6 percent for years. One of the fastest-growing economies in the world is actually Angola, yet the perception is that it's still in a state of war."
"You don't usually hear these stories," Salami added, "but there are signs that Africa is moving on."
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.
If "People are looking for diversification," said Hurley Doddy, chief operating officer of Emerging Capital Partners, a private equity group based in Washington whose investments in Africa have jumped from $400 million in 2000 to $1.5 billion this year. "A lot of the problems the U.S. economy is having, you simply do not have that in Africa."
Middle Eastern firms flush with oil money are increasingly looking to neighboring Africa, as are investors searching for the next India.
While the largest chunk of money is flowing to the continent's most developed countries, such as South Africa and Tunisia, a growing percentage is heading to sub-Saharan nations, including Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, Botswana and Cameroon. Tourism and mining have benefited, but so have cellphone companies, soap manufacturers, coffee growers, banks, construction firms and other businesses more often funded by donor money.
Stock exchanges have also prospered. Where once there were five, there are now 18 exchanges across Africa -- tiny markets in such relatively stable, out-of-the-news countries as Namibia, Mozambique and Zambia, where annual returns have averaged nearly 15 percent since 2000 and have at times been as high as 144 percent in a given year, according to a report by the International Monetary Fund.
Rwanda, infamous for the 1994 genocide that killed nearly 1 million people, is now gaining a reputation as one of the most business-friendly countries in the region, with smoothly paved roads and wireless Internet access. The Middle Eastern firm Dubai World recently said it planned to invest $230 million in Rwanda's tourism sector.
"People are starting to see Africa much more as the land of opportunity than in the traditional paradigm of starvation and famine and war," said Alan McCormick, managing director of the Dubai-based investment group Legatum. "There are opportunities in a number of countries -- it's not universal, but it's there."
"If you look at sub-Saharan African markets, they've given annual returns that are substantially better than most around the world," said Ayo Salami, a chief investment officer for Duet, a London-based financial group that inaugurated its first Africa fund in December. "Even this year, most of the economies around the world are not seeing very much growth -- 2 percent would look optimistic. Whereas in Africa, it's been around 6 percent for years. One of the fastest-growing economies in the world is actually Angola, yet the perception is that it's still in a state of war."
"You don't usually hear these stories," Salami added, "but there are signs that Africa is moving on."
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.
If "People are looking for diversification," said Hurley Doddy, chief operating officer of Emerging Capital Partners, a private equity group based in Washington whose investments in Africa have jumped from $400 million in 2000 to $1.5 billion this year. "A lot of the problems the U.S. economy is having, you simply do not have that in Africa."
Middle Eastern firms flush with oil money are increasingly looking to neighboring Africa, as are investors searching for the next India.
While the largest chunk of money is flowing to the continent's most developed countries, such as South Africa and Tunisia, a growing percentage is heading to sub-Saharan nations, including Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, Botswana and Cameroon. Tourism and mining have benefited, but so have cellphone companies, soap manufacturers, coffee growers, banks, construction firms and other businesses more often funded by donor money.
Stock exchanges have also prospered. Where once there were five, there are now 18 exchanges across Africa -- tiny markets in such relatively stable, out-of-the-news countries as Namibia, Mozambique and Zambia, where annual returns have averaged nearly 15 percent since 2000 and have at times been as high as 144 percent in a given year, according to a report by the International Monetary Fund.
Rwanda, infamous for the 1994 genocide that killed nearly 1 million people, is now gaining a reputation as one of the most business-friendly countries in the region, with smoothly paved roads and wireless Internet access. The Middle Eastern firm Dubai World recently said it planned to invest $230 million in Rwanda's tourism sector.
"People are starting to see Africa much more as the land of opportunity than in the traditional paradigm of starvation and famine and war," said Alan McCormick, managing director of the Dubai-based investment group Legatum. "There are opportunities in a number of countries -- it's not universal, but it's there."
While the region has monumental deterrents to business -- including generally horrendous roads, spotty power supplies and entrenched corruption -- analysts say the surge in foreign investment reflects a number of fundamental economic changes.
Chinese investment across the continent -- in oil, agriculture, mines, roads, power and other areas -- has to some degree caused private investors to sit up and take notice, Salami said. But so have reforms undertaken by governments.
Chinese investment across the continent -- in oil, agriculture, mines, roads, power and other areas -- has to some degree caused private investors to sit up and take notice, Salami said. But so have reforms undertaken by governments.
4 comments:
idiot. Th South Africa stock market has been on bullish run like we've never seen for 4 years. Anyway...run along to you rnew home. You sure seem happy seeing as you still keep visiting South African websites....homesick much?
Koos is moving to Alaska
You would know all about cheap, Koos. Take the ice enema out of your ass and you'll feel much better. Cold=shrinking parts... that were small to begin with... shrink much K(D)oos? That's what you get for moving to Alaska.
The business of Africa is crime, and business is good.
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