Wealth in natural resources makes West Africa a key partner for the western world. Exports to others emerging economies such as China and India are increasing significantly, driven by their accelerating need for resources to fuel the recent upturn in industrial activity.
This puts West African businesses in an ideal position to “fill the gap” created by the emerging economies as investment in infrastructure would dramatically improve efficiency and a greater potential yield for investors.

West Africa has a population of 340 million inhabitants. All of these consumers require banking services, food, internet / telephony services to name but a few. Penetration rates across industries such as mobile telephony, banking services and electricity are still relatively low and as such any business catering to West Africa’s substantial “bottom of the pyramid” is sure to succeed. Ghana and Nigeria for example; account for about 61 percent of population and 81% of gross domestic product (GDP) in Economic Community of West African States. The region has an increasing middle class with higher purchasing power making it an attractive market.

Institutionally, the creation in 1995 of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) has contributed to the security of the business environment within West Africa and this in turn has created a new emerging market which is definitely a destination for investment!

The Mismatch between the general perception of risk and reality offers a genuine opportunity to proactive investors to access a large choice of projects with a high yield / return on investment.

Africa currently has 23 domestic stock exchanges and two regional stock exchanges. These provide an ideal exit route for private equity investments.