best way to do business

 BEST WAY TO DO BUSINESS

CAPE TOWN With its mind-boggling allure, Africa's economic powerhouse could be a mine of opportunities for businesses at all stages. Among the variety of high-class shops, boutiques, restaurants, galleries and exquisite hotels, the thriving retail scene is like a South African version of Milan's landmark Rodeo Drive, which draws shoppers from around the world. Those are among the main attractions that ensure Cape Town regularly tops international rankings for doing business. A decent public transport network and affordable fares make it easier to move around, and the harbourside is a perfect spot to watch colourful, intense, multi-hued ships slowly moving in and out of Table Mountain's channel, against a backdrop of snowy mountains. Cape Town has established itself as one of the world's top meeting places, with more than 350,000 people making the annual pilgrimage to its countless events each year. Perhaps most successful of all is the African Food Expo, which draws visitors from far and wide with an exotic international flavour. The art and literature scene is also well established, and the South African Heritage Centre is a must-see for anyone curious about the country's troubled history. Far more down-to-earth are the many parks. Kalk Bay Beach, known for its wide and clean sand, and Long Street (Newlands), popular with jazz musicians and students, offer tranquil settings for people-watching. Perhaps surprisingly for a place with an African name, it's also a good place to visit the Hottentot, a breed of elephant native to southern Africa. Winelands wine is a major industry, but its wines also reflect Cape Town's flair for design. The opening of the prestigious Decanter world-class wine school two years ago was a catalyst for more visitors to explore the distinctive Cape wine landscape. The water is another area of top appeal. Despite a drought, the three main rivers that flow through the city - the Usine, the Inkwenkwezi and the Outeniqua - remain good for swimming. Some are already talking of Cape Town as a potential contender for the 2024 Olympic Games, with its opening and closing ceremonies both on Table Mountain. ARTS & CULTURE CAPE TOWN Because the beaches are popular with domestic and international visitors, many travellers to the city are likely to spend time in the city centre. There is a wealth of museums and galleries, although the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in the central District Six area of the city is a major draw, with exhibits tracing the story of a once-stark neighbourhood that suffered from deliberate colour-labelling, a policy aimed at forcing black people to leave in the apartheid era. LONGSTANDING MEMORIES Cape Town is one of the world's oldest cities, so visitors might be surprised to discover that just over 2,000 years ago, it was already settled by the earliest farming communities in the southern hemisphere. The fact that it has survived for such a long time, although no longer as densely populated as it once was, reflects the spirit of its people, says Catherine Rayner, who leads the City of Cape Town's tourism programme.