Nigeria set to beat SA in investor stakes

Harare - The importance of South Africa - the continent’s second largest economy - as Africa's primary market for international investors is expected to decline over the next five years while that of Nigeria is expected to rise, according to a new survey report by the Economist Corporate Network.

Concerns around South Africa as an investment destination “were linked to crime”, the survey report says. For the southern African region, one in five respondents cited “safety concerns”, adding to a growing list of investment impediments such as legislative and policy inconsistencies other fund managers, economists and investors have cited for some markets in the region.

Although executives surveyed under the report said southern Africa is one of their focus areas for further investments, Herman Warren, director of the Economist Corporate Network, said: “Many South African executives, for instance, believe most new opportunities are up north, while those to the north of South Africa believe South Africa is an attractive destination.”