A Case for West Africa

While the focus of the Africa narrative a decade ago was whether the continent would ever deliver on its latent potential, the shift has been such that the conversation is now about how high this ceiling can be. Africa’s positive outlook and the surrounding sense of optimism have been a boon to the increased focus on the continent, particularly in a global context where developed economies are still recovering from financial turmoil and BRIC nations have not delivered on expected growth. In Africa, there is no longer the sense of a false dawn; instead, there is the vision of a resurgent Africa where economic growth is comparable to or even faster than any other continent and marked improvement in human development is no longer a mirage but is within reach.

Rapidly Growing Economies and Strong Fundamentals

The West African Investment Opportunity

Accelerating & Diversified Economic Growth

Favorable Demographic & Urbanization Trends

Improved Macroeconomic & Political Stability

Underpenetrated Private Equity Markets

Sources:

  1. IFM 2016 Forecast
  2. African Development Bank
  3. “The rise of the African consumer,” McKinsey Global Institute, October 2012
  4. World Economic Outlook Database 2016. GDP stated in terms of Represents 6 year constant price GDP CAGR
  5. “Lions on the Move,” McKinsey Global Institute, June 2010
  6. United Nations World Population Prospects: the 2015 Revision
  7. “Africapolis: Urbanization Study in West Africa,” Agence Française de Development, January 2011
  8. Emerging Markets Private Equity Association, February 2011