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* FDI growth in sub-Saharan Africa up 25 percent in 2011
* FDI into North Africa halved in 2011
* India, China, South Africa are largest investors
By Tosin Sulaiman
JOHANNESBURG, July 5 (Reuters) – Foreign direct investment
inflows into Africa fell in 2011 for the third consecutive year
but could more than double by 2014, as stronger economic growth,
ongoing reforms and high commodity prices improve investor
perceptions, the United Nations said on Thursday.
The decline in investment, from $43.1 billion in 2010 to
$42.7 billion in 2011, was largely due to reduced inflows to
North Africa as social and political unrest in Egypt and Libya
deterred investors, according to the 2012 World Investment
Report. Africa’s share of global FDI also dropped from 3.3
percent in 2010 to 2.8 percent in 2011.
However, inflows to sub-Saharan Africa jumped 25 percent to
$36.9 billion in 2011, close to its peak of $37.3 billion in
2008, as commodity-rich countries in west and central Africa saw
a rise in new projects.
The report, published by the United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development, said Africa’s FDI prospects for 2012 were
promising and forecast average flows of between $55 billion and
$65 billion in 2012. It projected this would grow to $70-$85
billion in 2013 and $75-$100 billion in 2014.
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