Switzerland is ranked among the largest foreign direct investors in South Africa. Major Swiss investors have production facilities or branches in the country, including Nestlé, Novartis, Holcim, Schindler and Sulzer. Approximately 250 to 300 Swiss-owned or managed companies operate in South Africa, jointly employing almost 26 000 people. There is an investment protection agreement in force between Switzerland and South Africa, as well as an agreement ensuring that double taxation is avoided.
The South Africa of today is one of the most sophisticated and promising emerging markets globally. The unique combination of a highly developed first-world economic infrastructure and a huge emergent market economy has given rise to a strong entrepreneurial and dynamic investment environment.
South Africa is the economic powerhouse of the African continent, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of R1,9 trillion (US$283bn) - four times that of its Southern African neighbours, and comprising 30% of the entire GDP of Africa.
The World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report 2008/09 of the World Economic Forum, ranked South Africa 45th out of 134 global nations. South Africa's GDP grew at a healthy 5,2 % in 2007 and a lower 3,1% in 2008, due to the impact of the global economic crisis. South Africa is one of the most sophisticated and promising emerging markets, offering a unique combination of highly-developed first world economic infrastructure, with a vibrant emerging market economy. South Africa is also one of the highest ranking developing economies and surpasses countries such as Hungary, Italy, Brazil and Thailand. The country leads the continent in industrial output (40% of Africa's total output) and mineral production (45% of total mineral production) and generates most of Africa's electricity (over 50%).
Useful publications:
South Africa geared for Growth 2009
Cost of doing Business in South Africa 2008
