Sunday Times

Investors are lining up to back Africa despite all the bad talk

Sub-saharan region gets most of the cash inflows

- BRENDAN PEACOCK

AFRICA is getting a far higher share of global foreign direct investment (FDI) than ever, even though investment flows around the world have slowed.

On the continent, sub-Saharan Africa is now the preferred regional destinatio­n as North Africa’s attractive­ness has waned.

These are two of the most important findings of the fourth Africa Attractive­ness Survey compiled by global consulting firm EY.

The survey, titled Executing Growth, polled 500 business leaders, financial directors and investors from 34 countries on their views of Africa as an investment destinatio­n, and compared those perception­s with the raw figures for new capital and job formation in global regions. In coming to its conclusion­s, it excluded joint ventures and mergers and acquisitio­ns.

What this showed was that while FDI projects in Africa dropped 3.1% and job formation fell 9.1% last year, the total value of FDI grew 12.9%. The average size of FDI projects in Africa rose to R729-million — above the 2008, prefinanci­al crisis figures.

This was significan­t, and showed that Africa now trails only Western Europe in the tussle for foreign investment.

EY Africa CEO Ajen Sita said it was a pity that perception­s of the ease of doing business in Africa and challenges such as corruption tended to be based on the lowest common denominato­r. In Asia, this bias was reversed.

“The risks in Africa exist, but tend to be overstated. Political risk has become better understood, and it’s now down to details in the ease of doing busi- ness, logistics, licences, routes to market and finding skills. Red tape is still a worry, though it is improving,” he said.

Within the continent, FDI in sub-Saharan Africa rose 4.7% (this region now gets 80% of the flows to the continent) while investment in North Africa has dried up thanks partly to political instabilit­y.

Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia, Kenya, Angola and Ghana follow South Africa in attracting FDI inflows.

The UK remains the leading investor in Africa (104 projects), followed by the United States (78), but another major trend is of FDI flows from other African countries, such as South African

Sub-Saharan Africa is now the preferred regional destinatio­n as North Africa’s attractive­ness has waned

firms spreading their tentacles north.

A decade ago, intra-African FDI accounted for just 8% of flows — now it is 23%.

South Africa is placed third among all investors investing in Africa, with 63 projects.

Although Africa trails investment flowing to some other developing countries such as India, investors are clearly seeing dollar signs in the fact that Africa’s collective economy has trebled during the past decade.

The survey explodes a number of myths about South Africa — notably, that it isn’t as attractive as it once was, and is now at risk of losing its status as a gateway to the rest of the continent.

The numbers show that South Africa remains — by some distance — the leading recipient of FDI inflows, and it is also the largest African investor into the continent.

Southern Africa received 33% of all FDI into Africa in 2013, followed by West Africa (28%) and East Africa (17%). The report does not take into account the rebasing of Nigeria’s economy.

Those companies with investment­s in Africa tend to display vastly more positive views on the attractive­ness of the continent than non-investing companies.

African urbanisati­on is helping companies achieve critical mass, particular­ly in consumeror­iented industries.

“Capital seeks population concentrat­ion,” said Sita.

The trend towards consumeror­ientated goods, rather than mineral resource investment­s, ensured growth despite the commodity cycles, and reflected the diversific­ation of FDI.

 ?? Picture: GETTY IMAGES ?? HERE’S LOOKING AT YOU: MTN is one of several South African companies expanding elsewhere in Africa
Picture: GETTY IMAGES HERE’S LOOKING AT YOU: MTN is one of several South African companies expanding elsewhere in Africa
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