James Whitmee

I am in Kingston, Jamaica, looking at the real estate market, mostly in New Kingston.

The office market has been flat in terms of growth for 5+ years at USD 12 /sq ft /year, although there has been little new development and there is a perception that USD 15 could be achieved if there was good, new space available. Most of the recent activity relates to call centres.

There is an office investment market, but there is no real international interest and it is local, mostly Jamaican pension funds, yields being around 10%. Neighbourhood commercial in strata title sells for USD 200-250 /sq ft.

James Whitmee

i am in Lilongwe in Makawi, looking at the office market.

I have based myself in City Centre which is the location of all of the principal institutions and embassies in the city. Just adjacent and to the north of this area there is Capital Hill (a Government reserved area), Parliament, Bingu International Conference Centre, and the Peermont and Sunbird Capital hotels.

Charles Whitmee

I am in Senegal looking at the office market in Dakar, although I have also had an opportunity to look more closely at Diamniadio.

Until recently Diamniadio was a relatively small and unremarkable town with a population of just 12,000. However, under the leadership of President MackySall, Diamniadio has become the focus of a plan to revitalise the Senegalese economy and ease the population pressure on Dakar. The development of the new city is taking place around 30 km from Dakar, close to the Blaise Diagne International Airport, which opened in December 2017.

I have been driving around the area today, and it is currently largely characterised by empty, unused land and is sparsely populated. However, dotted around this zone there are some significant new developments, including the Dakar Arena, Sphere Ministeriellebuilding, Centre des Conférences de Diamniadio and the Radisson Blu. 

James Whitmee

I am in Kinshasa in DRC. I started off at the Grand Hotel in Gombe, but have now moved to Le Cypres which is a nice, small hotel in Ngaliema.

It has been tough for hotels here in the last couple of years because of the economic and political instability. There are a five 4-5* hotels representing just under 900 beds, and occupancy has been sub-50%. Prices in this sector are up to $250 per night. The 3* market is a bit stronger, generally charging in the range of $100-150 per night.

James Whitmee

I have been working this week in Casamance which is the southern region of Senegal, south of Gambia and towards the border with Guinea Bissau.This area is mostly a massive expanse of mangrove wetlands.

Although my destination was Cap Skirring I flew to Ziguinchor (capital of Casamance) from Dakar because the airport at Cap Skirting is closed at this time of year - it is the rainy season and tourists are not coming here now.

Charles Whitmee

This week I have been in Dakar, looking at the office market. After a successful week, I am in the lobby of the Yaas Hotel in Les Almadies, waiting for my lift to the new Blaise Diagne International Airport. The airport is a drastic improvement from the former Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport and a symbol of the promising future of Senegal.

Dakar is a relatively small office market in terms of international corporate demand, and as a result, most of the office supply is constructed to a local standard and would fail most international corporates’ Health & Safety standards.

James Whitmee

I am in Algiers in Algeria.

There was a push last year prior to the ousting of President Bouteflika, to complete some of the major totemic Algiers projects. The only one which is completed is the new airport extension, which is currently mainly being used for French flights. There are plans to make Algiers more of a travel hub for Sub-Saharan Africa, and to compete with Casa and Addis. There is also talk of relaxing visa regulations to promote tourism.

James Whitmee

I am in N’djamena in Chad, looking at the market for villas and apartments.

I am staying at La Residence which is a good hotel which you can literally walk to from the airport terminal as it is about 300 metres distant. From here it is a 5-minute walk to the top end of Avenue Charles de Gaulle, which is N’djamena’s banking district. Therefore, this central part of the city is all quite compact and accessible.

Charles Whitmee

Last week I was in the beautiful, historic city of Athens looking at the residential property market. Towards the end of the week, I was fortunate enough to have time to make the trip up to the Acropolis. Looking out at the Aegean Sea from the shadow of the Parthenon, I afforded myself a moment to recall some of my favourite ancient Greek myths and legends. Not least, Theseus tragically returning from Crete in his black-sailed ship.

James Whitmee

I am in N'djamena for the week, It is very hot here currently with the temperature today around 45 degrees.

I am staying in the downtown area of the city close to Ave Charles de Gaulle. Thiis is where all of the banks are located, many of the ministries, and businesses such as Bollore, Air France, PwC and Deloitte.