Africa is often referred to as the "blue ocean market" of the future, but with so many nations and vastly different city development, how should foreign investors who wish to enter the African market decide to settle in their home city? We have listed eight of Africa's best business cities for you today based on Statista.
The index is composed of several sub-indices. The "Economy" component looks at each city's level of development and economic strength. Logistics and infrastructure are the main topics of the Business Environment section. "Society" examines the standard of living, education, and demographic change. The "charisma" dimension draws attention to elements like the environment, culture, and tourism.
Cairo had a notably high score for the operational environment, ranking 113th out of 200 cities worldwide, but only ranking 176 overall. In comparison to other African cities, Algiers, Johannesburg, and Casablanca also receive good marks, as our infographic demonstrates. Johannesburg is ranked top in the sub-index social and 176th overall.
1.Cairo
Cairo is the largest metropolis in Africa and the Arab world, as well as the capital of Egypt. The city, which is situated in northeastern Egypt and spans the Nile River, serves as the political, economic, cultural, and transportation hub of the Middle East. It is the political, economic, cultural, and commercial hub of the Middle East, spanning the Nile. Among Africa's top business cities, this Egyptian city comes in #1. It has a score of 31.84 on the Global Business Cities Index.
2.Algiers
Algeria's port city and capital is Algiers. With a 29-kilometer shoreline, it is situated on the southern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, on the western side of the Gulf of Algiers. With its streets and hilltop residences, the 75-kilometer-long city is tucked away between the semi-amphitheater-like bays of Ouad Hala and Ouaed Mazafaran, resembling a gem on the Mediterranean's southern shore. In addition to being one of the biggest ports on the Mediterranean coast, this ancient city was established in the tenth century and is currently the nation's political, economic, cultural, and transportation hub. From the Global Business Cities Index, Algeria's capital, Algiers, had a score of 31.32.
3. Johannesburg
A world-renowned worldwide metropolis, Johannesburg, also known as Joburg, is the capital of Gauteng Province in the Republic of South Africa. It is also known as the "Golden City" and serves as the country's economic, cultural, and tourism hub. After gold was discovered and mined, Johannesburg, which was just a prospecting camp, grew into a thriving metropolis. Situated in the center of South Africa's economic center and the greatest gold mining region in the world, the city is surrounded by more than 60 gold mines. It scores 30.33 points on the global business city index.
4. Casablanca
The largest city in Morocco, Casablanca, is situated on the western Atlantic coast. It is referred to as the "lungs of Morocco" and "the bride of the Atlantic" and is the nation's major port city, commercial powerhouse, and transportation hub. The name means "white house" and is well-known for the film "Casablanca". The Global Business Cities Index gives this Moroccan city a score of 28.84.
5. Nairobi
One of the biggest cities in Africa and the largest in the East African region is Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, an East African nation. Nairobi, which has a population of roughly 2.16 million and has an area of 648 square kilometers, is situated in the middle and western regions of Kenya on a plateau 1,680 meters above sea level. It is roughly 480 kilometers away from Mombasa, the country's main port. The "Little Paris of East Africa" is a vibrant, fascinating global city with a global business city index of 24.01, and it serves as the home of the United Nations' headquarters in Africa.
6. Cape Town
The second-biggest city in South Africa, Cape Town serves as both the Western Cape's capital and the country's legislative center. It is also a vital component of the Cape Town metropolitan region. The South African Parliament and other government agencies are located in Cape Town, which translates to "Cape City" in English due to its close proximity to the Cape of Good Hope. It is also one of the world's most beautiful towns and the most visited tourist destination in South Africa. The Global Business Cities Index gives Cape Town 17.14 points.
7. Accra
Ghana's capital and biggest port city, Accra, serves as the nation's political, economic, and cultural hub. The largest city in Africa closest to 0° longitude and 0° latitude is Accra, which is situated in southeast Ghana and borders the Gulf of Guinea. Ghana's political, economic, and cultural hub is Accra, where there is a major market for diamonds and cocoa beans. Ghana's only international airport, Kotoka International Airport, is located near Accra, which has excellent road connections. With the University of Ghana, the Academy of Sciences, museums, botanical gardens, and more, Accra is a popular tourist destination. According to the Global Business Cities Index, Ghana's capital, Accra, scored 16.48.
8. Lagos
With one-third of Nigeria's industrial businesses and workers, Lagos, the country's former capital and main port, is the biggest metropolis in West Africa and accounts for 60% of the nation's total industrial production value. Five industrial estates—Appa, Ilupeju, Yaba, Ikaija, and Musin—all contain sizable plants for oil (palm oil), cocoa processing, textiles, everyday chemicals, plywood and sawn timber, shipbuilding, auto repair, metal tools, papermaking, rubber, and other industries.
With its well-equipped deep-water terminals and specialized oil, coal, and fishing facilities, Lagos is also one of the most advanced seaports in West Africa. With an annual throughput of 8 million tons, it handles 70–80% of the nation's import and export cargo volume. Lagos is another well-known coastal city.