Africa is home to 54 different countries – each with its unique set of laws, policies, and political environments – while approximately eight regional blocs govern security and trade across the continent. Of these, 48 are on the mainland and six are islands. Over the past few years, a number of African countries have adopted policy reforms to transform their legal and regulatory environments. The reforms are, in each instance, intended to foster a competitive environment, encourage free trade, improve the investment climate, stabilise the economy and attract investment. A key consideration for any investor navigating the 54 countries is how best to access these highly opaque markets, given that only a few countries provide key economic and business data.