Following the launch of its first regional office in South Africa popular social network Facebook has stated that it has no specific time plans to open offices in Kenya or Nigeria.

Last month Facebook, which says it has more than 120 million active users in Africa, announced that it was opening a regional office in continent in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday Nicola Mendelsohn, vice president for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at Facebook said the South African office is their first on the continent.

"We are just getting going here, and that's where we are today," she said.

She added, "We are definitely here for the time being."

Commenting on why they chose the southern African nation first Mendelsohn said, "We came here because in talking to our closest partners, businesses we've been working with are located here and we also see a strong agency ecosystem here and also a strong talent hub."

We also recognise that Kenya and Nigeria are incredibly important markets for us, she stated.

According to Facebook its move to set up office in the southern African nation is to further its commitment to help businesses connect with people and grow locally and regionally.

Regional director for Facebook in Africa, Middle East and Turkey, Ari Kesisoglu said that their main role is to help African businesses grow using Facebook.

The focus of the office is to work with small business as well as larger businesses and advertisers.

Mendelsohn explained that 52% of their revenue comes from international business (outside the US and Canada) and they are making more investments in EMEA and Africa.

She noted that Facebook is trying to understand the market on the continent and in South Africa.

"This is very much a business office. We will be working with advertising agencies, working with small businesses those will be the primary focus of this office," said Mendelsohn.

Ebele Okobi, head of public policy for Africa at Facebook said the launch of the South African office "is the beginning of a long story and long relationship with the country and the rest of the continent".

"We see ourselves coming to South Africa as part of the community as part of the ecosystem," Okobi noted.