The head of one of the world’s largest buyout firms expects economic growth in Africa to outpace every other region over the next decade, but warned Russia might prove “more complicated” for private equity firms.

Speaking at the SuperReturn Emerging Markets 2010 conference in Geneva, David Rubenstein, co-founder and managing director of The Carlyle Group, said Africa stood alone in terms of growth potential. He said: "I am very bullish on the prospects for Africa. Nothing compares with Africa in terms of economic growth as a percentage over the next decade, [partly because] it is starting from a low base."