Foreign Direct Investment in the region grew from less than $ bn in 1990 to almost $ bn in 2012. South African companies have been very active in this respect and have increasingly made their presence felt on the continent in mining, the retail sector, construction, telecommunications, agri-business and banking in particular.
12  BIS Review 9/2008  interest rates which have enabled households to service a higher level of debt; financial innovation which has eased credit constraints; and generally buoyant employment conditions. 17 In terms of household balance sheets however, net wealth (the difference between assets and liabilities) has increased, despite the negative saving rate.