“Good air links between Johannesburg and Dakar facilitate a growing South African connection,” she adds. “But we have also tracked strong interest from Europe and North America as businesses look for growth opportunities in markets with cash economies and low exposure to the international credit crisis. Senegal, bordering Mauritania, Mali, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, makes an ideal entry-point for international business.”
Dakar, the capital city, has about 2.5 million residents. The Regus business centre will open in June 2009.
Regus believes that with a strengthening infrastructure in place, including transportation, telecommunications and communications systems, business activity is increasing in Senegal and is expected to continue over the next few years. Political stability with a growing interest in imports such as oil and gas extraction and refining equipment, mining, telecommunications and agro-industrial machinery and business opportunities can be seized in the region.
Bushell believes savvy individuals will consider developing markets as a way of managing through the current economic downturn. “Zealous business professionals are determined to be successful and are going to look for new channels and opportunities that will allow them to be profitable, even during this economic downturn,” she says.
The Regus centre will be located in Dakar's business district in the commercial area of Plateau. The Azur building is a high-end building in close proximity to the international airport, train station, highways and upscale hotels.
Regus' South African footprint currently includes 12 local centres and 17 in the whole of Africa.
“We are committed to working with emerging markets and to helping our customers be as productive as possible,” comments Bushell. “Our international head office recently announced new centres in Macau, China and Asuncion, Paraguay.”
