Establishing a presence in South Africa

Establishing a presence in South Africa is Grant Thornton’s practical guide outlining the most important aspects for business investment in South Africa.

South Africa is the most obvious place to set up shop on the African continent. In addition to being Africa’s largest economy and the only African member of the G20, South Africa offers investors the stability of a strong infrastructure, the opportunities of a vibrant emerging market and a climate that fosters growth.

The World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report for 2011/12 ranked South Africa as the 50th most competitive country out of 142 global nations, making it the highest ranked country in sub-Saharan Africa. South Africa also ranks 35th out of 183 countries for “ease of doing business” in a survey entitled ‘Doing Business 2012’.

Spread across the tip of Africa, South Africa is well positioned to access the 14 countries that make up the Southern African Development Community (SADC) – a market of 250 million people. The country’s ports are the best equipped in Africa, with major shipping lines passing along the coast.

South Africa also has free-trade agreements with the European Union and the SADC. Foreign banks conduct business in South Africa and the JSE (Johannesburg Stock Exchange) is among the top 20 exchanges in the world by market capitalisation.

South Africa’s competitive advantage as a business destination:

best financial services and legal sector in Africa
gateway to Africa
political stability

If you are planning on doing business in South Africa knowledge of the investment environment and information on the legal, accounting and taxation framework are essential to keep you on the right track.

Download the Guide to establishing a presence in South Africa in PDF format or read it online below

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