Africa
World Bank Targets USD 23 Billion Private Capital Push as Africa Races to Create Jobs for Booming Youth Population
The World Bank Group has unveiled plans to mobilise nearly USD 23 billion in private capital for Africa over the next four years, in what could become one of the institution’s most ambitious efforts yet to tackle the continent’s widening infrastructure gap, youth unemployment crisis and energy deficit.
The multibillion-dollar initiative, announced recently, will be driven through the bank’s newly consolidated Guarantee Platform, a financial risk-sharing mechanism designed to attract private investors into sectors many global financiers still consider too risky.
At the centre of the strategy is a plan to more than double the World Bank’s annual guarantee issuance in Africa to USD 6.4 billion by 2030, as the institution intensifies efforts to unlock investment into industries capable of generating large-scale employment.
Against that backdrop, the World Bank said guarantees would become a key tool for attracting investors to “job-rich sectors,” including agribusiness, energy, healthcare, digital services, finance, trade and transport infrastructure.
The institution projected that nearly 190 million Africans could directly benefit from the intervention within the next four years through expanded electricity access, digital connectivity, transport systems and financial inclusion initiatives.
Source: Business Insider Africa
Egypt
Egypt Aims to Attract USD 77.5 Billion across 7 Investment Zones under Construction
Egypt aims to attract investments worth up to 4.1 trillion Egyptian pounds (approx. USD 77.5 billion) to seven major investment zones under construction across three governorates over the next 20 years.
The zones are targeting 214 projects and are expected to create around 1.2 million jobs as Egypt steps up efforts to boost investment activity and expand employment opportunities, according to a Cabinet statement issued after a meeting between Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Investment Minister Mohamed Farid.
The investment push comes as Egypt continues rolling out measures to boost private sector participation and attract foreign investment.
Among them is the Golden License system, a Cabinet-issued approval that allows strategic projects to obtain land allocation, construction, establishment and operating permits through a single streamlined process aimed at reducing bureaucracy and accelerating implementation.
The approach is also tied to the country’s economic development plan, which targets 7.5% growth by 2030 through higher private investment, stronger exports, and job creation.
Source: Arab News
Ethiopia
Ethiopia’s Export Revenue is Set to Jump from USD 3 Billion to a Historic USD 10 Billion
The Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, recently disclosed that the country is projected to earn USD 10 billion in export revenue by the end of the current fiscal year.
The disclosure was made during the 4th ‘Made in Ethiopia’ Expo, noting that the estimated earnings are a far cry from those of three years ago, when the country was unable to earn USD 3 billion for its exports.
According to the Prime Minister, the country’s budding industrial sector and the success of the Made in Ethiopia Movement are two of the key reasons for the significant jump in estimated revenue.
He also noted that the national economic framework has prioritised the expansion of export activities alongside a strategic reduction in import dependency by enhancing domestic manufacturing capabilities.
As reported by the Ethiopian News Agency, Abiy revealed that Ethiopia has generated around USD 14.5 billion in import-substitute goods in the span of four years, as plans to double that figure have already been set in motion.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister relayed that the country has designated 96 specific products for domestic production, including a strategic focus on the ceramics industry, as part of a comprehensive import substitution strategy.
He also attributed the current 10.2% economic expansion in the East African country to significant progress within the sectors of agriculture, mining, manufacturing, tourism, and technology.
Source: Business Insider Africa
Ghana
Ghana’s Gold Boom Pushes Export Earnings Past USD 11 Billion as Reserves Surge
Ghana’s export earnings climbed sharply to USD 11.1 billion in the first four months of 2025, as soaring global gold prices strengthened the country’s trade position and boosted foreign reserves.
New data released by the Bank of Ghana showed the country earned significantly more from exports between January and April compared to the USD 9.2 billion recorded during the same period in 2024.
Gold remained the driving force behind the surge, generating USD 6.8 billion in export revenue by April 2025, up from USD 5.2 billion a year earlier. The sharp increase highlights Ghana’s growing dependence on the precious metal at a time when global investors are increasingly turning to gold amid economic uncertainty and market volatility.
The latest figures reinforce Ghana’s position as one of Africa’s leading gold exporters and underline how rising commodity prices are helping stabilise parts of the country’s economy despite broader fiscal pressures.
Source: Business Insider Africa
Nigeria
Nigeria, Others Position to Lead Africa’s Digital Finance Growth to USD 65 Billion —Report
Africa’s financial technology industry is projected to generate about USD 65 billion in annual revenue by 2030, marking a 13-fold expansion from current levels, according to a new report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
The projection underscores the scale of transformation underway in Africa’s digital finance ecosystem, which has grown rapidly over the past decade on the back of mobile money and digital payment adoption.
The report, titled “Beyond Payments: Unlocking Africa’s Second FinTech Wave,” was launched at the Inclusive FinTech Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, noted that while Africa has achieved global leadership in mobile money usage, the next phase of growth will depend on the continent’s ability to expand into deeper financial services such as credit, insurance, savings, and enterprise financing beyond basic payment systems.
The report also highlighted Nigeria’s strategic position in the evolving fintech landscape. With ongoing regulatory reforms by the Central Bank of Nigeria, including the introduction of open banking frameworks and regulatory sandbox initiatives, the country is seen as well-positioned to play a leading role in Africa’s second fintech wave. However, the report noted that success will depend on how effectively issues such as system fragmentation, infrastructure gaps, and data governance are addressed.
Source: Leadership Nigeria
South Africa
South Africa’s USD 5.8 Billion Hydrogen Gamble could Reshape Global Shipping and Energy Markets
A multibillion-dollar green hydrogen project in South Africa is moving closer to reality, positioning the country at the centre of a rapidly intensifying global race to dominate the future of clean industrial fuel and low-carbon shipping.
The USD 5.8 billion Hive Hydrogen project, located in Nelson Mandela Bay’s Coega Special Economic Zone, has taken a major step forward after selecting a USD 1 billion electrolyser and ammonia production solution capable of producing one million tonnes of green ammonia annually.
The development is being closely watched by investors and policymakers because of one key claim: the project could produce some of the world’s cheapest green ammonia at a time when global demand for cleaner fuels is accelerating.
The project is being developed by Hive Hydrogen, backed by UK-based Hive Energy and South African infrastructure firm BuiltAfrica.
The plant will be powered by nearly 1,500 MW of wind energy and 1,430 MW of solar energy. Danish energy company Topsoe will supply solid oxide electrolyser technology that Hive Hydrogen says could reduce renewable infrastructure costs by more than EUR 500 million and lower electricity transmission expenses by 25%.
Source: Business Insider Africa
Tanzania
Tanzania Discovers Some of the World’s Most Valuable Strategic Minerals
Tanzania could be edging closer to becoming a significant player in Africa’s growing critical minerals industry following the discovery of rare earth element deposits in the country’s southern highlands.
The newly identified deposits contain Neodymium and Praseodymium, two highly sought-after strategic minerals used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, smartphones, defence systems and renewable energy technologies.
Officials say the discovery could strengthen Tanzania’s standing in the global race for critical minerals as countries and corporations compete to secure long-term supply chains needed for the clean energy transition.
According to The Citizen Tanzania, Resident Mining Officer, Engineer Lucas Mlekwa, said the deposits were identified during ongoing exploration activities in the region.
Regarding clean cooking energy, the government aims for 75% adoption by 2030 through the distribution of improved stoves, gas, and other environmentally friendly technologies.
She urged investors to seize these opportunities, affirming that the government is working to enhance the business climate and implement policies that encourage investment.
While Tanzania is not yet ranked among Africa’s leading rare earth producers, the discovery adds to the country’s broader push into critical minerals alongside existing deposits of graphite, nickel, gold and natural gas.
Source: Business Insider Africa
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Eyes USD 21 Billion Mineral Export Boom as Mining Firms Prepare Massive Hiring Drive
Zimbabwe’s mining industry is preparing for one of its biggest hiring waves in years, with the sector projected to create up to 100,000 new jobs over the next five years as foreign investment pours into gold, lithium, platinum and chrome projects.
The expansion, which industry experts say could reshape Zimbabwe’s labour market and export economy, comes as global demand for strategic minerals used in electric vehicles, energy storage and industrial manufacturing continues to rise.
According to The Herald, citing the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe, nearly half of the anticipated jobs will require engineers and other highly skilled technical specialists, highlighting the sector’s growing technological sophistication and operational scale.
Mining remains one of Zimbabwe’s most critical economic pillars. Data from the Chamber of Mines shows the industry contributes roughly 14.5% to the country’s gross domestic product, generates about USD 7.7 billion in output annually, and accounts for more than 45% of Zimbabwe’s foreign currency inflows.
The industry’s momentum is also accelerating. Mining output reportedly grew by 7.3% in 2025, while projections suggest the sector could expand by another 10% this year. Analysts are also forecasting a potential mineral export boom that could push earnings to nearly USD 21 billion within two years.
Source: Business Insider Africa
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Reports
2026 Africa Sustainable Development Report | United Nations Economic Commission on Africa
This 2026 Africa Sustainable Development Report is released as African countries advance through the final phase of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development while continuing implementation of the African Union’s Agenda 2063. This progress is taking place within a global environment characterised by persistent uncertainty, fragmented economic governance, and mounting climate, fiscal, and demographic pressures – all of which shape the pace and trajectory of development outcomes across the continent.
The instability in the Middle East has amplified energy and food price volatility, disrupted trade routes, and heightened global uncertainty, with direct spillover effects on African economies. While recent years have required sustained responses to overlapping shocks, the central challenge now is to move beyond crisis management towards transformative, coordinated, and forward-looking action capable of sustaining development progress over the medium to long term.
Click here to download and read the full report.
Africa Industrialisation Index 2025 | African Development Bank
Industrialisation remains the most credible pathway for Africa to achieve structural transformation, generate productive employment at scale, diversify exports, strengthen economic resilience, and secure long-term prosperity. In a rapidly evolving global economic environment shaped by geopolitical realignment, technological disruption, climate transition, and supply chain restructuring, the urgency for Africa to industrialise has never been greater.
The findings of the 2025 edition of this report, which covers all African countries, highlight both progress and persistent gaps. The results underscore the urgency of mobilising and scaling up productive investments, strengthening Africa’s financial and institutional architecture, harnessing the continent’s demographic potential, and accelerating value addition through industrial development. These four priorities align with the Four Cardinal Points strategic compass of the African Development Bank Group and can form the cornerstone of a renewed vision for Africa’s transformation that moves beyond the export of raw materials toward the development of competitive industries.
Click here to download and read the full report.
2025 East Africa Private Capital Activity Report | AVCA – African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association
Over the past five years, East Africa’s private capital market has entered a new phase of scale and maturity, emerging as one of Africa’s most dynamic investment regions underpinned by solid macro growth fundamentals. Capital deployment has more than doubled, supported by a broadened opportunity set spanning Financials, Agriculture and Clean Energy, alongside the growing structural role of private debt and a maturing venture ecosystem. Investor activity is extending into frontier geographies and niche sectors, while exit momentum is building through improved distribution visibility, compressing time-to-exit, an increasingly international buyer base and greater use of liquidity innovation. However, ongoing FX sensitivity and political cycles continue to shape execution outcomes, reinforcing the centrality of discipline in converting market momentum into realised returns.
This report examines how one of Africa’s most dynamic investment regions is consolidating its private capital market depth and scale.
Click here to download and read the full report.
MENAAP Economic Update: Challenges of Conflict and Industrial Policy for Development | World Bank
Conflict has engulfed the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (MENAAP) region, exacting a serious human and economic toll and heightening geopolitical uncertainty. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and damage to energy infrastructure have pushed up oil prices, increased financial volatility, and weakened the 2026 growth outlook. A prolonged conflict would intensify displacement, fiscal pressures, and losses in trade, tourism and remittances, hitting a region already burdened by sluggish productivity, weak labour markets, and limited private sector dynamism. These shocks expose deeper structural weaknesses: limited diversification, weak productivity, and fragile labour markets. Against this backdrop, the report turns to industrial policy as a tool for long-term growth. Widely used across the region, often through sovereign wealth funds and state-owned enterprises, industrial policies can address market failures and foster growth – but only when aligned with country capabilities, implemented with accountability and backed by capable institutions.
The conflict weighs most heavily on the MENAAP region. This report assesses its economic repercussions, which, by no means, capture the full toll of lives lost, livelihoods destroyed, and populations displaced. Whatever its course, the conflict will leave a lasting scar on the region and its people.
