Kearney, a global management consulting firm, has released its highly anticipated ‘2023 Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index’ (FDICI), which provides a unique perspective on which countries are most attractive to investors. The report also reveals emerging market trends, including those in Africa, with a focus on countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, and South Africa.
According to the FDICI, South Africa remains an attractive investment destination, thanks to its stable governance and robust legal framework. Kearney notes that the country’s business environment offers unique opportunities and potential for growth, making it a standout investment hub in the emerging market landscape.
Despite facing domestic challenges, South Africa continues to foster an environment conducive to investment, as the most advanced and broad-based economy in sub-Saharan Africa with relatively stable institutions and rule of law. Additionally, Morocco has recently implemented a range of economic reforms, making it more attractive to foreign investors.
Egypt has also made strides to improve its investment climate, such as introducing a new investment law aimed at improving transparency and predictability for investors. However, Ghana was the only African country to make the bottom five among the emerging market rankings, indicating a need for further efforts to attract foreign investment.
The FDICI also includes an exclusive emerging market ranking, highlighting China, India, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Thailand, and Saudi Arabia as the top six most appealing emerging markets to investors over the next three years. Latin America and Southeast Asia also perform strongly, with Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam ranking highly.
The dominance of developed markets in the top spots on the index underscores the challenge faced by emerging economies in attracting investor interest, as they compete with more established markets for attention and capital. Kearney advises businesses in emerging economies to emphasise and leverage their unique advantages and growth potential in the emerging market landscape to overcome this challenge.
