The African continent is experiencing rapid urbanization and consumer welfare is growing. This provides opportunities for investors who want access to real estate in the North of South Africa. According to the head of the Bank, Gary Garrett, countries that provide investment opportunities include Angola, Namibia, Nigeria, Mozambique, Ghana, Zambia. Investments of foreign investors in the commodity sector of these countries serve as a catalyst for economic development. They make the great demand for top quality offices and living spaces. Gareth says that even if there are many opportunities for investment in Africa, one should notice that there is no single jurisdiction on the continent.

Investors are often wrong when they think of Africa as a single landscape. It is imperative to identify those countries that offer the best opportunities and may combine them with their own experience. Investors also should find suitable partners to help them understand all the complexities and risks that may arise when doing business on the continent.

Demand for high-quality assets is evident in countries where natural resources have recently been discovered. The combination is the driving force behind the demand for assets. Even if commodity prices have fallen, demand for high-quality real estate assets still exist. Rapid urbanization stimulates demand for real estate. About 170 million people live in Nigeria and this makes it the main focus of real estate development on the continent. Office real estate is dominant in the country.

In Nigeria, the commercial center of the city is home to approximately 21 million citizens and there are only 54,000 m2 of high-quality retail space such as IKEA or shopping centers. West African partner of Nigeria – Ganna has the same difficulties as it has only 22 000 m2 of retail space, while the population is four million people. If you pay attention to investment in real estate, in the future it will become the most popular retail trade but there are also other problems that are associated with the regulatory environment. For example, at the beginning of 2014, the measures that limited the provision of loans in foreign currency were introduced, as well as payment in foreign currency for rent. This fact gives the investor information that the rapid change in policy affects strongly the risk environment.

There are Standard banks in 20 African countries, which means that there is an opportunity for business development across the continent and the possibility to cooperate with investors who do business in Africa. The Bank, as a major financial institution in the continent, has a partnership with the Commercial Bank of China and holds a 15% stake that allows it to provide a wide range of services to customers anywhere in Africa.

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