Having recently received an exciting sellside hospitality mandate for Tanzania, it set me thinking about Sub-Saharan Africa and, more specifically, what does the international investment community think of the region.

Such a vast area with so many differences. Given that, it seems as though most international investors either choose an area to invest in - eg West, East or South Africa - or target projects in one or two major cities, such as Lagos, Nairobi, Johannesburg or Addis Ababa. Investment patterns are difficult to track.

Surely, there has to be a way to get more private investment into the region - a more diverse investment mix? Looking in from the outside it seems it is a story of the 'same old, same old' ie the same international investment groups doing what they do well in a region they know well. New investors seem few and far between. Where is the innovation?