Business leaders in Africa are optimistic of improved economic and business conditions for the first half of 2012, the Young Presidents’ Organisation’s Global Pulse Confidence Index has revealed.According to the latest survey, 45% of business leaders on the continent expect economic and business conditions to improve by midyear. Thirty-seven percent said economic and business conditions improved last quarter.Optimism about sales growth over the coming 12 months is also high. The YPO Sales Confidence Index for Africa rose 3.1 points in the fourth quarter of last year to 73.3, which is a record high for the continent and well above the global sales index level of 67.6 points.Investment confidence also climbed to 3.1 points within the same period to 65.5 on the YPO Fixed Investment Confidence Index for Africa. The reading for Africa is 4.1 points above the global sample. Hiring expectations also climbed 3.1 points to 60.3.Mr. Khutso I. Mampeule, chairman of South Africa-based Lefa Group Holdings, member of the YPO Johannesburg Chapter and chair of YPO’s Africa Region, speaking to B&FT said “despite challenges in the Eurozone and parts of Asia, economic confidence amongst Africa’s CEOs remains robust.”The increased optimism is expected to translate into new hiring during 2012, driven by healthy sales forecasts and boosts in capital spending.The YPO Global Pulse Confidence Index combines CEOs’ answers about expected and most-recent-quarter sales, employee numbers, fixed investment and business conditions. It measures the sentiments and personal experiences of business leaders.A reading below 50 indicates a negative outlook while a reading above 50 indicates a positive outlook. The YPO, founded in 1950, is a not-for-profit, global network of young chief executives connected around the shared mission of becoming better leaders through education and idea exchange. It currently has a membership of 19,000 in 110 countries.Members have access to unique experiences, world-class resources, alliances with top learning institutions and specialised networks that help them enhance their business, and personal leadership.Plans are afoot to establish a chapter in the country.