By Ian Fife

There's a strong case for global investors to move to SA, based on our performance in 2006. That's the conclusion to be drawn from data released by international property benchmarking company IPD.

SA commercial portfolios (at a total return of 26,7% in 2006) outperformed Canada (18,6%), the UK (18,1%), Denmark (17,8%) and all other markets covered by IPD, except the "small and closed" Irish property market (27,2%).

Simon Fairchild, UK director of IPD, says "the SA market should be attractive to investors on these results, despite the rand's volatility and the risk premium".

SA outperformed all other world markets over three and five years. Industrial property was the top performer with a 31,1% total return. Income returns on property values were the highest globally in 2006.

IPD is headed in SA by Stan Garrun. Its benchmarks have been a major contributor to the booming global property market.

Financial Mail