IMF estimates show that inward direct investment in Africa had higher returns than outward direct investment in 2020, lower than the average in the OECD. In South Africa, inward investment yielded 4.6% between 2009 and 2021 (2.7% in 2020), compared to 1.6% (1.7%) for outward direct investment. Although inward direct investment returns into South Africa have exceeded those for the EU or OECD, South Africa’s outward direct investment returns have been lower.
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Here is a comparison of the historical yields on SA’s foreign assets and liabilities.
