South Africa's Political Outlook:

What are the political risks to doing business in South Africa over the next 5 years?

BMI's South Africa Country Risk Ratings evaluate the short and medium-term threats posed by government instability, adverse economic policy-making, deterioration in the business environment and external shocks.

South Africa Political Outlook Contents

• SWOT Analysis for the South African Market
  Political Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats facing South Africa.
• Political Stability and Risk Assessment for South Africa
  BMI's Risk Ratings assess explicit short and long-term risks to political stability; latest ratings, rankings and trends for South Africa's risk are compared with Africa regional and global averages.
• Current Administration and Policy-making in South Africa
  BMI profiles key policy-makers and power-brokers in the South African government, assessing threats to the continuity of South African economic policy, and likely changes to the business operating environment through end-2012.
• South African Foreign Policy
  BMI examines key trends and shifts in South Africa's foreign relations and alignments with Africa neighbours, the United States and Europe, focusing on external influences.

Key Benefits

1. Benchmark South Africa's risk profile against its neighbours, the global and regional average, allowing easy comparison of risks between key business markets.
2. Identify, evaluate and anticipate political and security risks to the business environment in South Africa, and to your company's current operations and future plans.
3. Gain valuable insights into the South African government and policy-making, through BMI's specialist team of analysts and economists, and their exclusive network of private and public sector sources.

South Africa's Economic Outlook:

How will South African economic policy-making and performance impact corporate profitability over 2008-12?

BMI provides fully independent 5-year forecasts for South Africa through end-2012 for more than 35 macroeconomic variables. We evaluate South African growth, and also forecast the impact of economic management, including central bank policy, on profitability.

South Africa Economic Outlook Contents

The South Africa Business Forecast Report features explicit BMI economic forecasts for South Africa, with supporting commentary and analysis, for end-2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 set against South African government views. Underpinning our South Africa forecasts are key assumptions for the global economy through end-2012, covering growth, inflation, employment, trade and investment, interest and exchange rates in the US, Japan and the Euro-zone.

Coverage of Key Economic Issues in South Africa

• Economic Activity in South Africa
  Real GDP growth; industrial growth; employment growth; inflation and consumer prices; consumption (indicative wages, retail sales, consumer confidence)
• Fiscal Policy in South Africa
  Current macroeconomic strategy and implementation policies; government finance (revenue, expenditure, budget balance); tax reforms
• Monetary Policy in South Africa
  Interest rate trends (bank lending and deposit rates); inflation (retail price inflation, consumer price inflation); exchange rate policy in South Africa; South African currency controls; influence of foreign direct investment inflows; exchange rates and foreign exchange reserves
• Balance of Payments in South Africa
  Merchandise trade (exports, imports, trade balance); current account balance
• Foreign Direct Investment in South Africa
  Foreign direct investment approvals and inflows; the foreign investment climate
• South African External Debt
  Debt profile (short- and long-term debt; public and private sector exposure)

Key Benefits

1. Rely upon BMI's 100% independent Forecast Scenarios for South Africa and underlying assumptions - we take no advertising and are privately-owned.
2. Exploit the benefits of BMI's comprehensive and reliable macroeconomic South Africa database, sourced and fully maintained by BMI from an extensive network of private sector, government and multilateral contacts.
3. Gain key insights into the current and future direction of South African government economic policy

South Africa's Business Environment:

How internationally competitive is South Africa's regulatory environment, and what changes can be expected?

BMI assesses levels of transparency, flexibility of labour market, tax burden, development of the banking sector and credit availability, infrastructure and IT, foreign investment regime and trade liberalisation in South Africa.

South Africa Business Environment Contents

• South Africa's Business Environment Risk Rating with SWOT Analysis
  Short and long-term business environment risk ratings for South Africa, benchmarked against ratings for Africa and neighbouring countries.
• Country Competitiveness for South Africa
  Competitiveness of South Africa's business operating environment in supporting corporate growth and profitability over the 5-year forecast horizon, compared with regional neighbours.

Coverage of Key Business Environment Issues in South Africa's Domestic Environment

Transparency, cronyism and corruption; labour market flexibility; corporate tax burden; interest rate levels; access of private sector to lines of credit; sophistication of banking sector and stock market; levels of business confidence; infrastructure and IT

• Foreign Direct Investment in South Africa
  Analysis of foreign investment regime, foreign ownership laws; attractiveness of business environment to foreign investors; review of major foreign direct investments over the last 24 months, and of strategic sectors attracting most interest
• Foreign Trade with South Africa
  Analysis of trading environment, government trade policy, liberalisation measures, tariffs and membership of trade areas

South Africa's Key Industry Sectors

Which industry sectors in South Africa will grow fastest, and where are the major investment opportunities in the South African market?

BMI targets investment opportunities in South Africa's high growth industries, including automotives, food and drink, infrastructure, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, telecommunications and IT.

Coverage of South Africa's Key Industry Sectors - South African Market Overview

Size, value and structure of industry; impact of liberalisation and privatisation on sector performance and prospects; friendliness of business environment

• Latest Developments in South Africa
  Review of latest projects, deals, privatisations, mergers and acquisitions, and implications for sector performance; company rankings for national and multinational companies in South Africa; main industry players by local sales, employee size, market share and main brands, products and services
• 5-year Industry Forecast for South Africa
  Historic dataset (2003-2007) and BMI forecasts through end-2012, covering headline industry data broken out by sub sector

Key Benefits

1. Target strategic sector-by-sector opportunities in South Africa's high growth industries, attracting public expenditure and foreign investment; identify key players and competitors driving growth, investment and business opportunities.
2. Benefit from competitive intelligence on top national and multinational companies operating in South Africa's major industry sectors, including analysis of recent trends in sales and market share, company strategies, product launches and latest deals.

Who buys the Africa Business Forecast Reports?

The South Africa Business Forecast Report is an essential tool for CEOs, Chairmen, Finance Directors/CFOs, Managing Directors, Marketing/Sales Directors with commercial interests in South Africa.

Our Business Forecast Reports are relied upon by corporates, banks, government departments and multinational organisations around the world.

Business Monitor International's Business Forecast Report subscribers include:

Asia

Europe

Middle East

Africa

North & South America