Looking beyond the stereotypes in Africa

AFRICA

A decade ago, the idea of betting your savings on the African economy would have tested the nerve of even the most risk hungry investor.

These days, however, the more ‘risky’ emerging markets have started to become more accepted parts of wealth manager portfolios, offering respite from the prolonged weakness in developed economies. While Africa still has far to go in terms of shaking the negative stereotypes surrounding the region, Sven Richter, the manager of the $90m (£56m) Renaissance Sub-Saharan fund argues investing in Africa today is no more risky than any other emerging market. “Most people’s perceptions of Africa are driven by the local travel agent, which portrays Africa as all wild bush and animals, or by NGO...