Flexible work space provider Regus is to strengthen its operation in Africa following an 89 per cent increase in enquiries last year, with expectations for growth forecast throughout 2012.

The latest edition of the Regus Business Confidence Index (BCI) says Africa is benefiting from a strong sense of business optimism with East Africa and West Africa up 37 and 26 points respectively on the global average, based on reports of increased profits and revenues.

Africa’s economic performance is being fuelled by a number of factors, including growth of entrepreneurship, rising foreign direct investment, Western businesses’ search for new markets, and growth in intraregional trade, which has lead to demand for Regus’s centres far out-stripping original targets.

Most recently the company added a centre in Lusaka, Zambia in December following the country’s impressive economic performance, with The Economist expecting it to be one of the world’s ten fastest-growing economies in 2011-2015 and growth of over six per cent predicted for 2012.

Mark Dixon, CEO of Regus, said: “Africa is a growing market for Regus. We’ve seen a surge in enquiries, with year on year growth of 40 per cent. The Regus launches in Zambia and elsewhere in Africa are a response to that surge in demand, which is being driven by strong economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa, and by the adoption of new, more efficient and more productive ways of working. We’ll continue to invest in our network in Africa and across the globe, in order to meet demand.”

Currently Regus operates 27 centres in 13 countries across the continent; expansion is being actively sought in business districts and transport hubs with South Africa, Kenya, and Morocco receiving the most attention.

Pictured: the new Regus centre in Zambia