Interesting Facts

 

South Africa is the preferred location for multinational investors in Africa. Its unique value proposition makes the country an attractive destination for a growing array of investors and industries. Today South Africa is not only a resource rich economy with access to both a vibrant local market and a growing regional market but also a financial, technical, and innovation hub attracting companies looking to tap the country’s talent pool. We invite you to explore the 10 pillars of our unique value proposition.

10 Reasons Why South Africa is an Attractive Destination

1. Quality Infrastructure and Efficient Logistics
With well-established and continued investment in infrastructure, South Africa is positioned as a key global hub and an attractive gateway into the rest of the continent.

2. Largest Presence of Multinationals in Africa
South Africa is the investment destination of choice for a substantial number of global corporates, who enjoy the benefits of doing business in the country. More than 180 Fortune Global 500 companies are present in South Africa.

3. Manufacturing Hub
South Africa has a well-developed, diversified manufacturing base that has shown its potential to compete globally, and serves as a manufacturing hub to supply the rest of the continent for a number of consumer product companies.

4. Lucrative Emerging Market
South Africa’s growing middle class as well as its most affluent consumer base in Africa presents attractive returns on investment.

5. Favourable Market Access to Global Market
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will boost intra-Africa trade and create a market of over 1 billion people with a combined GDP of over US$2 trillion. South Africa has several trade agreements that provide an export platform into global markets.

6. Innovation and Tech Hub
The Global Innovation Index ranks South Africa number one in innovation in Africa. South Africa’s intellectual property rights protection is regarded as the second best in Africa. South Africa is also fast becoming a technology hub in Africa and has a growing ecosystem in the tech sector ranging from technical expertise to finance support for entrepreneurs.

7. Abundant Natural Resources
South Africa is abundantly endowed with precious metals. It is the world’s leading producer of platinum group metals, the sixth-largest producer of gold, has world-renowned underground mining expertise and more than 100 listed mining companies with operations in the country.

8. Africa's Leading Financial Hub
The Global Innovation Index ranks South Africa number one in innovation in Africa. South Africa’s intellectual property rights protection is regarded as the second best in Africa. South Africa is also fast becoming a technology hub in Africa and has a growing ecosystem in the tech sector ranging from technical expertise to finance support for entrepreneurs.

9. Young Trainable Labour Workforce
South Africa has a number of world-class universities, producing a skilled, talented, and capable workforce. It offers a diversified skillset, a large pool of trainable labour, and government support for training and skills development.

10. Excellent Quality of Life
South Africa is renowned for its quality of life, offering both high-quality city experiences and more tranquil and breathtaking landscapes.

Invest in South Africa

South Africa boasts a diversity of investment opportunities spread across thirteen major sectors in the nine provinces. As a potential investor, we highlight a variety of recent investments, testimonials, news articles, press releases, and a myriad of information resources in the form of publications that have been tailored for you.

Grow in South Africa

As an established investor, you have reaped the benefits of your investments and expansion is now on your radar. We have tailored the content for you with investment opportunities for expansion in the nine provinces, Special Economic Zones, and publications in the major sectors. South Africa has provided for foreign direct investments (FDI) to a myriad of multinational enterprises. Explore this page that is tailored for you, the established investor.

Invest in Provinces

South Africa is made up of nine provinces offering a diversity of investor opportunities whether you are a potential investor or an established one. Some of the provinces (four) are coastal, offering ports and harbours for imports and exports but have an extensive air, road, and rail infrastructure. Gauteng is the smallest province by geographical size but has the highest economic activity.

Special Economic Zones

Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are geographically designated areas of a country set aside for specifically targeted economic activities, supported through special arrangements (that may include laws) and systems that are often different from those that apply in the rest of the country.

Sectors for Investments

Green Economy
• Green energy
• Recycling
• Hydrogen
• Biofuels
• Water infrastructure
• Co-generation

Resource-Based Industries
• Mining
• Agro-processing
• Aquaculture
• Agriculture
• Mineral beneficiation
• Ocean / blue economy

Services Industries
• Oil & gas
• Ship building
• Ship repairs
• Business process outsourcing
• Films
• Explorations

Manufacturing
• Automotive
• Leather & footwear
• Clothing & textiles
• Rail
• Metals fabrication
• Yellow goods
• Heavy vehicles
• Cosmetics
• FMCG

Advanced Manufacturing
• Plastics
• Electronics
• White goods
• Aerospace
• Pharma
• Chemicals
• Biochemical
• Defence industries