Africa Can Unlock $1.1 Trillion Investor Capital for Growth
Africa holds a massive $1.1 trillion in untapped capital through institutional investors, according to the Africa Finance Corporation’s latest State of Africa’s Infrastructure report. These funds—mostly from pensions, insurance firms, and sovereign wealth funds—remain locked in low-risk, short-term investments, thereby missing opportunities to drive real economic growth. In total, the continent has nearly $4 trillion in domestic […]
Moody’s Boosts Nigeria’s Credit Rating as Economic Reforms Show Promise
Moody’s has upgraded Nigeria’s credit rating from Caa1 to B3, reflecting notable progress in the country’s external and fiscal health. This boost follows the World Bank’s recognition of Nigeria’s strongest economic growth in nearly a decade, fueled by a robust 2024 fourth quarter and improved fiscal strategies. Central to the upgrade is Nigeria’s foreign exchange reform, […]
How African Brands Can Win Back Market Share from Western Rivals
Despite $3.5 trillion in potential from the African Continental Free Trade Area and pockets of excellence in fashion, fintech, and media, African brands remain overshadowed by western ones. Now, after years of promoting global giants like Nike and Colgate, Thebe Ikalafeng champions African brands through his Brand Africa initiative. Ikalafeng attributes the pervasiveness of Western brands […]
Côte d’Ivoire Launches West Africa’s First Commodities Exchange
Côte d’Ivoire has launched West Africa’s first agricultural commodities exchange, marking a major step toward modernizing regional trade. The exchange has attracted considerable interest, with over $54,000 worth of cashews, kola nuts, and maize exchanged within minutes of its opening. With the platform, which took seven years to develop, Côte d’Ivoire aims to replace the informal […]
Cape Town’s Innovation Surge: From Seaside City to Global Start-Up Hub
Cape Town is fast becoming Africa’s answer to Boston and Cambridge, drawing global investors with its rich university ecosystem, among other things. The city’s concentration of top universities, including the University of Cape Town, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, and the University of the Western Cape, is said to produce a “cluster effect” similar to the […]
S&P Global Ratings Retains Optimistic View of South Africa’s Economy
S&P Global Ratings has reaffirmed a positive outlook for South Africa’s economy, spotlighting the country’s structural strengths and sound fiscal management. At the S&P Capital Markets Conference in Johannesburg, the agency’s president praised Africa’s investment potential and highlighted that it will outperform advanced economies, which are projected to see lower growth. While South Africa’s growth is […]
Casablanca’s Financial Hub Aims to Lead Africa’s Growth Revolution
Casablanca is blending its historic trading legacy with futuristic ambition through its rising financial district, the Casablanca Finance City (CFC). Since its 2010 debut, the hub has attracted over 240 global firms, including Huawei and Schneider Electric, becoming a magnet for investment and innovation across Africa. Backed by Morocco’s stability, a generous tax regime, and strategic location, […]
AfDB Wins ‘Infrastructure Deal of the Year’ for Egypt’s Mega Wind Project
The African Development Bank has clinched the 2025 “Infrastructure Deal of the Year” award for spearheading financing for Africa’s largest wind power project—the 1.1 GW Suez Wind Farm in Egypt. Announced at the AfDB’s Annual Meetings in Abidjan, the award celebrates the Bank’s pivotal role in mobilizing $140 million toward the $1.04 billion venture. Developed by a […]
Country Platforms: The New Frontier for Development Finance in a Post-Aid Landscape
With foreign aid dwindling, country platforms are emerging as a transformative tool for global development finance, especially in Africa. These government-led vehicles align national priorities with climate goals and investment opportunities. Unlike donor-driven projects, which are usually fragmented, country platforms offer targeted solutions. Already in motion across countries like South Africa, Egypt, and Senegal, country platforms show […]
Green Flare Turns Nigeria’s Wasted Gas into Digital Gold
In Nigeria’s Niger Delta, Green Flare Holdings plans to transform waste gas from oil fields into power for Bitcoin mining—a bold climate-tech move with billion-dollar potential. By capturing flare gas and converting it into electricity, the company will reduce emissions while powering data centers. While it is starting with Bitcoin, Green Flare plans to eventually scale into […]