Economy

Just as significant as its role as a gateway to Africa for foreign investors, South Africa is also the source of outward foreign direct investment (FDI) flows on the continent, as well as further afield in emerging markets globally and increasingly in developed markets. “In recent years foreign investment by South African corporations has been...

Often referred to as the Rainbow Nation, South Africa has a heterogeneous population which reflects its rich and sometimes turbulent history. The country has been known as a centre for gold and ivory trading since as long ago as 12,000 AD, with established trade routes to both India and China. By the mid-1600s, it had become a useful staging...

With a long-established track record as the continent’s largest financial platform and one of the world’s biggest mining producers, South Africa has significant economic clout in the region. However, industrial strife and policy uncertainty have become key sources of investor concern of late. Recent years of slowing growth have failed to make...

Since the end of apartheid in 1994, South Africa has come a long way. Indeed, the Rainbow Nation is a symbol of what other continental economies aspire to, with a liberalised economy, a comparatively robust democracy, a free media and the potential for socioeconomic mobility. However, the challenges the country faces, which range from an...

Among the numerous cultural attractions that Colombia has to offer, music is possibly the most representative. A long list of dances and musical styles are part of Colombian heritage and remain, to this day, central to its culture. The Andean nation enjoys a diverse repertoire of music styles, rhythms and dances, which have their peculiarities...

CURRENCY: The Colombian peso is the national currency. Banknotes come in denominations of 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000 pesos, while coins are also available from 10 to 1000 pesos. The majority of airport exchanges handle foreign currencies, but it is advisable to convert less common...