The Missing Middle - SMEs in Africa

There is no lack of interest in investing in Africa. Economies on the continent have seemingly recovered from the global economic turndown faster than those in the West and are now growing at 5 to 8 per cent compared to 4 per cent in the BRIC countries. Profit growth for investments in Africa is typically much higher than the rest of world - mitigating some of the risks associated with such investments. However, while the continent is rife with those eager to invest, there is a swathe of small businesses that are finding it difficult to secure financing. This has come to be known as the ‘Missing Middle’.