• The South African economy, which is the 30th largest in the world, is highly diversified in terms of sectoral composition.
• Its gross domestic product (GDP) of ZAR4.87-trillion (USD368.3-billion at the average USD/ZAR exchange rate for 2018) represents circa 16% of the African continent’s overall GDP.
• South Africa has the most developed and technologically advanced economy on the African continent. It is the region’s principal manufacturing hub and a leading services destination.
• It is one of the most open economies in the world (exports and imports collectively represented approximately 60% of gross domestic product in 2018), with preferential access to numerous global markets.
• South Africa is endowed with an abundance of natural resources.
• The country has an extensive and modern infrastructure network.
• South Africa has a sophisticated banking sector with a major footprint in Africa. It is the continent’s financial hub.
• It offers a supportive and growing ecosystem as a hub for innovation, technology and fintech.
• The composition of South Africa’s GDP is similar to those of developed economies – diversified and positioned to generate sustainable long-term returns on invested capital.

Report by the SA Investment Conference