As part of The Payments Exchange series in collaboration with Crown Agents Bank, this episode brings you a critical discussion adapted from a recent webinar. On July 29, 2024, the Ethiopian Central Bank made a historic decision to float the Birr. This episode explores the potential impacts on Ethiopia’s trade and investment landscape, foreign exchange dynamics, and how businesses and international organisations can navigate these significant changes and capitalise on this transformative moment for Ethiopia. Featuring: Barkot Tekle, Head of Central & Development Banks, Emerging Market Financial Institutions at Crown Agents Bank Duncan Keil, Chief Executive Officer at ICAP Africa Zemedeneh Negatu, Global Chairman at Fairfax Africa Fund & Invest Africa Advisory Board Member Patricia Rodrigues, Associate Director at Control Risks

At the end of May, South Africans went to the polls for national and provincial elections that marked a significant shift in the country's political landscape. After more than two decades of waning voter support, the African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority in the National Assembly. This historic change for a party that has held unitary control over the executive branch since the first racially inclusive post-apartheid elections in 1994. In this recent vote, however, the ANC secured just 40% of the national vote and 159 out of 400 seats in the National Assembly. This necessitated the formation of a coalition government, wherein the ANC retains 20 out of 32 cabinet posts, the Democratic Alliance holds 6, and the remaining portfolios are shared among smaller parties (click here to see the new National Executive). To delve into what this historic election and the new coalition government mean for investors and businesses operating in and around South Africa, Ipeleng Selele, Chairperson of Brand South Africa; Seamus Duggan, Director for Global Risk Analysis at Control Risks; and Jeff Gable, Chief Economist at Absa, share their insights on the election results, new cabinet, and the challenges and opportunities for investors and businesses created by this new political landscape in South Africa.

In this podcast, we explore the evolving risk landscape in Africa and its impact on trade, investment, and gender. Genevieve Ahinful, Head of Political Risk and Trade Credit at Africa Specialty Risks, and Tokunboh Ishmael, Managing Director & Co-Founder, Alitheia Capital, discuss changing perceptions, offering insights into the opportunities and challenges for investors, and the need for companies to implement a gender-focused approach to their overall strategy.

In 2024, Africa grapples with a complex landscape, encompassing supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the persistent impact of COVID-19, rising inflation, and conflicts in the Middle East. Amidst these challenges, African nations are urged to leverage industrialisation opportunities, potentially catapulting the continent's GDP by 20%. Anticipating economic growth, countries like Angola and Mozambique are poised for a 6.2% expansion in 2024, surpassing the previous year's trajectory. Mozambique stands as the 16th fastest-growing economy, engaging in ongoing debt restructuring talks. While most African nations expect a relief from inflationary pressures, Angola and São Tomé and Principe may continue grappling with double-digit inflation, primarily driven by elevated oil prices. Lusophone countries, navigating the delicate balance between revenue generation from fossil fuels and the imperative to transition to clean energy, spotlight Mozambique's focus on Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) projects. Mozambique positions itself as a significant player in the global LNG market, seizing heightened demand amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict. As Africa's second-largest oil producer, Angola aspires to achieve 80% renewable power by 2025. Recent market reforms attract a diverse spectrum of investors, marking a departure from Chinese dominance to include Japanese, Middle Eastern, and European stakeholders. Even in island jurisdictions like Cape Verde and São Tomé and Principe, the imperative to transition to clean energy is evident. São Tomé sets an ambitious target of increasing the proportion of renewable energy to 50% by 2023, focusing on solar and hydro projects. Overcoming the current dependence on imported diesel for 90% of its energy, São Tomé and Principe envisions a sustainable energy future that yields inclusive growth. The investment landscape in Lusophone countries is encouraging, with international investors increasingly showing a willingness to support pivotal projects. This growing confidence within the investment community bodes well for the energy transition and overall economic development in these strategic markets.

In 2024, Africa is set to be the second-fastest growing major region, with most countries experiencing accelerated economic growth compared to 2023. East Africa, led by Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda, is poised to be at the forefront, contributing to Africa's real GDP increase from 2.6% in 2023 to 3.2%. However, political risks may rise due to elections in some major African economies. Following prominent multilateral events in 2023, including the inaugural Africa Climate Summit, Africa's vulnerability to climate change has gained greater attention. East Africa lags in meeting its $739.4 billion regional target for climate-resilient development by 2030, impacted by factors like drought and conflicts affecting growth in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia. Although renewable energy investments have driven recent growth, more efforts are needed to meet the region's escalating energy access demands, and build climate-resilient infrastructure to support the region’s growing population. Intra-African trade stands at 13%, significantly lower than the EU’s 60%. As a key member of the East African Community, Tanzania, strategically located on the Indian Ocean, aims to enhance regional integration, boosting intra-African trade. The moderinisation of the Port of Dar es Salaam will play a crucial role in facilitating trade with landlocked countries in the region like Uganda and Rwanda, ensuring that they are “land-linked”. Despite numerous tailwinds, including sustained economic growth, economic diversification, increased regional integration, and favourable demographics, East Africa’s promising growth potential calls for continued investment in the region’s infrastructure. Addressing the current challenges of poor infrastructure, which adds between 30% to 40% to the costs of goods traded among African countries, will further enhance the region’s positive trajectory and capitalise on the favourable conditions to yield inclusive growth.

The economic dynamics and political landscape within the framework of Africa’s North markets for the 2024 fiscal year present a nuanced scenario.  The growth in North Africa is estimated to have decreased by 1.3 percentage points to 4.1 percent in 2022. This decline was attributed to the sharp contraction in Libya, accounting for 6 percent of the region’s GDP, and the impact of drought in Morocco, constituting 13 percent of the region’s GDP. A more robust growth trajectory is anticipated in 2023–24, averaging 4.5 percent. This resurgence is underpinned by a strong recovery in both Libya and Morocco, along with the consolidation of gains in other countries.   In contrast, Egypt’s growth almost doubled from 3.3% in 2021 to 6.1% in 2022 due to greater investments in infrastructure, higher gas production and increased vessel traffic through the Suez Canal.   Among the major North African markets, Morocco is poised to experience one of the most substantial rates of growth acceleration after a pronounced slowdown resulting from drought, escalating energy prices, and a deceleration of growth in the EU, its primary trading partner. Morocco's GDP is projected to expand by over 3.1% this year, a significant improvement from the 0.8% recorded in 2022. North Africa holds immense potential to meet its energy needs and act as an alternative source for the EU’s oil and gas requirements particularly in Libya and Algeria, given its proximity to Europe and the EU’s shift away from Russia’s oil and gas.   However, concerns persist regarding the quality of growth and its sustainability in the future. Sub-Saharan Africa has witnessed an upsurge in attempts to destabilise governments through unconstitutional or violent means in recent years. Coups, violent extremism, riots, and social unrest have become more prevalent. The region remains susceptible to significant challenges, including climate shocks and the volatile political situation in Libya.  While pockets of economic resilience exist, the region confronts notable challenges related to political stability and the long-term sustainability of economic growth. Addressing these challenges will be pivotal in fostering a more stable and prosperous future in North Africa’s markets. 

Southern Africa’s regional economic performance in 2023 compares unfavourably to that of other sub-regions, with growth slowing to 3.3% from 4% in 2022. The outlook for 2024 is uncertain due to the Southern Africa region remaining subject to significant downside risks. Over the 2023-2024 period, six Southern African countries (Botswana, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe) will hold presidential and/or parliamentary elections. These elections could exert upward pressure on wages and public spending, challenging fiscal discipline and the implementation of bold structural reforms.   Nevertheless, the continent has shown resilience despite significant shocks. Southern Africa’s overall outlook for 2024 remains cautiously optimistic, with growth expected to rebound to 4%. This growth is set to be broad-based, with top performers for the fiscal year likely to include Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Zambia.   Despite grappling with high debt distress, exceeding 104% of GDP, Zambia’s GDP has consistently grown over the last two years. Zambia is poised to experience an improved macroeconomic environment, driven by a strengthened mining policy and a more reliable electricity supply. The Mauritian economy is projected to grow by 5% in 2023 and 4.2% in 2024, spearheaded by the tourism sector. Nevertheless, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, coupled with higher living costs in Europe, will lead to greater monetary tightening. Struggles with a power, logistics, and growth crisis have impacted South Africa’s public finances. South Africa’s medium-term outlook remains dim, but vital reforms are gaining traction.  

The economic dynamics and political landscape in the context of Africa’s Francophone markets for the 2024 fiscal year paint a complex picture. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains the largest intra-African trading nation; its share of total African trade increased by 35.7% from $12.19 bn in 2021 to $16.53 bn in 2022. This is largely a result of government commitments to regional integration and strengthening cooperation across the continent. Cote d’Ivoire also stands out as a critical contributor to intra-African trade, with the country’s short and medium-term economic outlook remaining positive, albeit slightly below pre-COVID-19 levels. Among the major Francophone markets, Morocco is expected to enjoy one of the strongest rates of growth acceleration following a sharp slowdown caused by drought, rising energy prices and growth deceleration in the EU, its main trading partner. Morocco’s GDP is forecast to expand by more than 3.1% this year, up significantly from the 0.8% recorded in 2022. Still, the quality of growth and its sustainability in the future remains a matter of concern. Sub-Saharan Africa has witnessed an increased incidence of attempts to destabilize governments by unconstitutional or violent means in recent years. Coups, violent extremism, riots, and social unrest have become more commonplace. Ongoing conflicts, contested elections, and economic challenges have caused instability in countries like Chad and Burkina Faso. The upcoming presidential election scheduled for the DRC on December 20th 2023 will be a flashpoint for instability. While there are pockets of economic resilience, the region faces notable challenges related to political stability and the long-term sustainability of economic growth. Addressing these challenges will be crucial for fostering a more stable and prosperous future in Africa’s Francophone markets.

From supply chain disruptions stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to the lingering effects of COVID-19 to increased inflation and interest rates, and recent conflicts in the Middle East,  2024 is sure to bring a multitude of challenges and opportunities to Africa. However, against this backdrop of polycrisis, African countries have been urged to seize the opportunity presented with industrialisation which could see the continent’s GDP grow by 20%. While growth in West Africa slowed to 3.6% in 2022 from 4.4% in 2021, it is projected to pick up in the medium term, reaching 4.1% in 2023 and accelerating to 4.3% in 2024. Senegal stands out as an exemplary economy, with IMF projecting the West African republic to grow at a record rate of 10.6% in 2024, the highest rate since independence. Nigeria remains the most populous country on the continent, emphasising the continued need to diversify its economy and maximise renewable energy strategies. With regards to technology, Mobile Money services have made more inroads in Africa than in any other region, with West African countries, namely Senegal, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire leading the way, indicating the need and desire to leapfrog traditional financial infrastructure.  Nevertheless, despite increased efforts to boost trade between countries on the continent, Africa trades far more with other countries than with itself. Increasing intra-Africa trade in 2024 will be critical to accelerate sustainable and inclusive economic growth across the sub-region and continent as a whole. Building partnerships that enable joint ventures and ensure local buy-in will be a priority for both the public and private sectors looking to further unlock Africa’s value-chain.

To celebrate International Women’s Day throughout the month of March, Invest Africa has been hosting a podcast series #WinningWomenInAfrica to promote inspirational African female industry leaders. #WinningWomeninAfrica will feature a weekly podcast, where our selected female industry leaders will reveal their path to establishing success, the challenges they encountered, and how women’s empowerment in Africa can be enhanced. Africa and the Middle East are the leading regions for the proportion of female CEOs, with Africa having the highest proportion of female board members globally at nearly 15%. Africa ranks second for the share of women-founded companies. Although global prosperity is more evenly distributed now than at any other point in history, there remains a staggering imbalance between men and women in the financial sector. According to the World Bank and International Finance Corporation, women-owned businesses face an estimated $1.7 trillion shortfall in access to finance. Dr Ngozi Erondu is a trained infectious disease epidemiologist with 15 years of experience working to improve health systems and global health governance. Her policy expertise includes strengthening regional leadership in pandemic preparedness and health security governance reform.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, Invest Africa hosts a podcast series throughout March #WinningWomeninAfrica to recognise inspirational African females. #WinningWomeninAfrica will feature a weekly podcast, where our selected female industry leaders will reveal their path to establishing success, the challenges they encountered, and how women’s empowerment in Africa can be enhanced. Africa and the Middle East are the leading regions for the proportion of female CEOs, with Africa having the highest proportion of female board members globally at nearly 15%. Africa ranks second for the share of women-founded companies. Although global prosperity is more evenly distributed now than at any other point in history, there remains a staggering imbalance between men and women in the financial sector. According to the World Bank and International Finance Corporation, women-owned businesses face an estimated $1.7 trillion shortfall in access to finance. Yemi is at the forefront of digital transformation to tackle business and social problems and is recognised as one of the leading Women in Technology in Nigeria and an inspiration for many

To celebrate International Women’s Day, Invest Africa is hosting a podcast series throughout March #WinningWomeninAfrica to recognise inspirational African females. #WinningWomeninAfrica will feature a weekly podcast, where our selected female industry leaders will reveal their path to establishing success, the challenges they encountered, and how women’s empowerment in Africa can be enhanced. Africa and the Middle East are the leading regions for the proportion of female CEOs, with Africa having the highest proportion of female board members globally at nearly 15%. Although global prosperity is more evenly distributed now than at any other point in history, there remains a staggering imbalance between men and women in the financial sector. Women-owned businesses face an estimated $1.7 trillion shortfall in access to finance according to the World Bank and International Finance Corporation Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes founded Aruwa Capital Management in 2019 to bridge the investment gap for female-led businesses in Africa. Aruwa is one of the few women-owned and led private equity funds in Africa investing in untapped investment opportunities in Nigeria and Ghana. Aruwa has recently raised its first institutional fund in Nigeria, making Adesuwa the youngest general partner to raise US$ 20 million in Nigeria, with leading investments from the Visa foundation and Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund.  

Spearheaded by the increased strength of Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda’s national economies, East Africa has become the fastest growing region of the continent in recent years. However, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with the Russian invasion of Ukraine has derailed the region’s growth trajectory. Rising food prices have become a key area of concern regarding food security, especially as the region is grappling with drought. An estimated 55 million people in East Africa are expected to be food insecure, up from 42 million in 2021 (World Bank, 2022). Nevertheless, the agriculture, construction, and energy sectors in East Africa offer the potential to yield inclusive growth. The rise in global oil prices has resulted in greater interest in Africa’s gas reserves as sources of energy alternatives; the liquified natural gas project in Tanzania has sparked renewed investor interest. Equally, Kenya’s underdeveloped mining sector is experiencing growth from 10.9% of GDP in 2021 to 22.6% in 2022. Recovery paths across East Africa have been uneven. Tanzania has been an anomaly through these ongoing crises as its GDP is forecast to reach 5% in 2022 up from 2% in 2020 (AfDB, 2022). Kenya’s agriculture sector, which accounts for 20% of its economic output has demonstrated considerable volatility and remains vulnerable to climate change. Additionally, political fragility and instability such as the escalation of fighting in northern Ethiopia and the political uncertainty accompanying regional elections could hinder private sector business activity. In Rwanda, the inflation rate is forecast to be pushed up to 16% in response to rising food prices causing hurt to consumers’ pockets. The road to recovery for economies across the region will be long and uncertain.

West Africa will be striving for economic growth against the backdrop of a major pair of twin shocks: the lingering COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. While GDP is set to decline by 1.2% in Burkina Faso, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, and Senegal, Niger’s GDP is forecast to increase (AfDB,2022). As most West African countries are import dependent, the soaring inflation rates both within the sub-region and globally will undoubtedly lead to higher import bills and thus risk eclipsing the level of exports (WADO,2022). The challenge for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which forms the financial backbone of the sub-region, will be to try to contain inflation rates low without suppressing inclusive growth. These global crises have increased the potential for a food crisis, with West Africa positioning itself at the centre of it given the possibility of social unrest. Higher prices for fertiliser have led to shortages, leading to less agricultural yields in the sub-region. However, this presents policymakers and ECOWAS with the opportunity to re-orientate economic and social policies to enhance intra-regional trade and strengthen the resilience of food systems in West Africa to better cope with future international market shocks. The unpredictable character of the global energy sector as an upshot of the Russia-Ukraine conflict has signalled for West African countries to achieve greater energy self-sufficiency. Petroleum producers in the sub-region such as Nigeria and Ghana have the potential to attract wider investment from the private sector. They will need to increase their refining capacity to promote further intra-regional trade and provide an avenue for West African countries to source cheaper products at a competitive rate. Security concerns and domestic political turmoil remain of paramount importance for achieving inclusive growth in the sub-region. Cross-border attacks in Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Benin will fail to aid both public and private investment. The volatile political circumstances in Mali and Burkina Faso and their increased ties to Russia’s paramilitary organisation, Wagner Group, will also prevent ECOWAS’ ability to achieve project growth and development targets. The result and impact of the upcoming Nigeria election in February will also be critical for the region as Benin’s President warned in 2016 “if Nigeria sneezes, the whole of West Africa catches a cold.”

The theme across the African continent for national economies in 2023 is uncertainty. North Africa’s regional growth is forecast to slow down in terms of real GDP growth, from an average of 4.2% in 2022 to 3.8% in 2023. The course of the Russia-Ukraine conflict remains highly unpredictable, resulting in unstable inflation rates consequently pushing up food and fuel prices for large sections of societies across North Africa. Economic recovery will be uneven as oil and gas producers in the region such as Algeria and Egypt have the potential to benefit from elevated energy prices and an international mood to wean Europe off Russian hydrocarbon exports, placing a sharper focus on Africa. Despite being the 3rd largest natural gas supplier to Europe, Algeria lacks the infrastructure to meet its own domestic and Europe’s rising demand. Yet this is also an area that could benefit from Algeria’s new investment laws passed in July 2022 that aim to stimulate the development of the country’s natural resources, technology transfer, job creation, and export capacity. On the political front, much of the region remains marred by political unrest which could further harm national economies. In combination with higher food prices, President Kais Saied’s power grab in Tunisia and subsequent policies have pushed the economy into dire straits, threatening increased poverty rates which could lead to violent social unrest.  However, a preliminary agreement secured with the IMF in 2022 concerning a $1.9 billion loan could aid in alleviating the Tunisian economy which has been plagued by food and fuel shortages. These challenges present the opportunity to build new social contracts and transform existing economic models to prioritise inclusive growth. With COVID-19 restrictions easing, the tourism industry particularly in Egypt and Morocco has seen an uptick in demand. As the host of COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, there is greater potential for Egypt’s tourism sector to develop along sustainable lines to become a model for the global tourism industry. This shift toward normalising eco-tourism will be crucial as droughts and rising sea levels, both impacts of climate change, pose a great threat to the social stability and economic growth trajectories for all North African countries. Nevertheless, there is a desperate need to increase the availability and distribution of climate finance to all countries across the region, particularly Mauritania. North Africa has an abundance of renewable energy resources, notably wind and solar. Morocco has one of the world’s largest concentrated solar power plants, providing energy for just under 2 million Moroccans saving 800,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. Both Morocco and Egypt are betting big on green hydrogen as producers and exporters to capitalise on the international interest in hydrogen energy.

Southern Africa was the hardest-hit sub-region during the COVID-19 pandemic causing regional GDP growth to contract significantly. Thus, these diverse economies are entering 2023 at various stages of economic recovery and development. A central theme for this year will be how countries in the sub-region can become less reliant on fossil fuels and investment opportunities in the renewable energy sector. South Africa is the largest emitter of greenhouse gas annually owing to its substantial coal industry but will be performing an increasingly delicate balancing act between transitioning to a green economy and trying to ensure job security for those working with fossil fuels. This shift has the potential to achieve decarbonisation commitments at a quicker pace while promoting sustainable development. Increased investments in enabling infrastructure, particularly in Namibia’s high-profile green hydrogen projects, are set to support economic diversification as the Government pursues its plans to boost value-added processing and achieve export-driven growth. Equally significant is the discovery of liquified natural gas (LNG) in Mozambique. While LNG has been identified as the “cleanest” fossil fuel it is one, nevertheless. African countries are being hit the hardest by disruptions in global supply chains as an upshot of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, increasing the need to diversify exports. In Zambia where food accounts for 50% of household consumer price baskets, higher prices for foodstuffs will significantly hurt the livelihoods of a sizeable portion of the population. Moreover, considering the move toward clean energy technologies there is a growing appetite for developments in Agri-Tech industries in Southern African countries such as Namibia to develop greater agricultural productivity. The reliance on European grain imports is only highlighting the necessity for African countries to become much more self-sufficient and to engage in intra-African trade to a greater extent, the African Continental Free Trade Area has the potential to deepen this. Low vaccination rates against COVID-19 in South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, Angola, and Lesotho will continue to constrain economic recovery.

As 2022 draws to a close, Invest Africa's CEO, Karen Taylor, speaks with Amir Hussain, Senior Underwriter - Political Risk and Trade Credit of Africa Speciality Risks, and Robert Besseling, Founder and CEO of PANGEA-RISK, to discuss what lies ahead for the countries on the African continent in 2023. Despite the uncertainty surrounding upcoming elections, the growing opportunities to implement successful debt restructuring initiatives and investment in Africa's renewable energy sector leave enough room for an optimistic outlook. 

On this episode of Invest Africa Insights we speak with Daniel Yu, CEO and Co-Founder of Wasoko, transforming informal retail across Africa. The sector accounts for up to 80% of employment and 50% of GDP on the continent and Daniel explains how Wasoko is empowering traders across Africa.

External headwinds influencing Africa's cost of living crisis is transforming the geopolitical landscape across the continent. Genevieve Ahinful, Head of Political Risk Insurance and Amir Hussain, Senior Underwriter, at Africa Specialty Risks, outline how businesses are navigating these uncertainties, amidst three major upcoming elections. For more information on Africa Specialty Risks, visit their website: www.asr-re.com

Africa's importance as a strategic partner of the UK, premised on geopolitical realignments and advancing the sustainable development agenda, is growing. Oliver Phillips, Director, Sustainable Finance at Standard Chartered Bank explains where the natural synergies between the two jurisdictions lie and how to regenerate the relationship based on strategic investments of mutual benefit. Access Invest Africa and Standard Chartered Bank's joint report here. 

This week on Invest Africa Insights we spoke to Bhairav Trivedi, CEO of Crown Agents Bank, about how fintech is disrupting banking in Africa and the role of digital currencies in enabling cross-border payments as the continent looks to boost regional trade. More information about Crown Agents Bank: https://www.crownagentsbank.com/ More information about Invest Africa: www.investafrica.com

This week on Invest Africa Insights we speak to Fred Steiner, Managing Director, BCCM Advisors about why we have only seen the start of tech's potential in Africa, Egypt's rapid rise as a tech hub and his approach to investing in high-growth businesses.  For more information about BCCM Advisors: https://bccmadvisors.com/ For more information about Invest Africa: www.investafrica.com

This time on Invest Africa Insights, we looked back on COP26 and how Africa fared at the talks with Dr. Rufaro Mucheka, Business Development Consultant - Africa, Jersey Finance. With environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards moving up the agenda for global investors and businesses, we ask how Africa better access sustainable finance and what more needs to be done to ensure that stakeholders come back to to COP27 with renewed commitments. 

On Invest Africa Insights today, we spoke with Thabo Makoko, Managing Director, Transactional Banking African Regional Operations at Absa Group on the changing trends in Africa's transaction banking landscape. With the flood of digital banking solutions across the continent, we discuss how banks can partner with local and regional fintech players to become the enablers to the unbanked and how central banks across Africa will look to regulate new digital currencies.  For more information on Absa and their work, please visit: https://www.absa.africa/absaafrica/ For more information on Invest Africa, please visit: https://www.investafrica.com/

On Invest Africa Insights we spoke to Marco Serena, Head of Sustainable Development Impact at the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) about investing in climate resilient infrastructure in Africa. The Continent faces the triple challenge of meeting its socio-economic development goals, building climate resilience and responding to the challenge of Covid-19. Infrastructure sits at the heart of these challenges and it is essential that the Continent is not locked in to high emissions model. For more information about PIDG: www.pidg.org For more information about the PIDG Climate Strategy: https://www.pidg.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/PIDG-climate-change-strategy-paper-2021-dev-18.pdf For more information about Invest Africa: www.investafrica.com

The US market remains an untapped source of capital for Africa while Africa is an untapped opportunity for American investors. This week on Invest Africa Insights we spoke to Karl Littlejohn, Acting Chief of Party of the USAID West Africa Trade & Investment Hub, about how the the Hub plans to support up to $400 million of new private investment in the West Africa region. For more information about the West Africa Trade & Investment Hub:  Web: https://westafricatradehub.com/  Twitter: @WestAfricaHub Linkedin: West Africa Trade & Investment Hub For more information about Invest Africa: Web: www.investafrica.com Twitter: @InvestAfrica1  Linkedin: Invest Africa Ltd. 

All businesses, regardless of size or market, have been profoundly impacted by the pandemic. The business world is changing rapidly with the uptake of new technologies creating both disruptions and opportunities. This episode on Invest Africa Insights, we spoke to Alan Barr, Partner, KPMG, about how businesses in Africa can navigate this challenging landscape and capitalise on new opportunities. Alan will join us at the Next Generation Africa Forum next week to lead a workshop about how African MSMEs can prepare for growth. The day is part of Invest Africa's drive to address the barriers to growth that MSMEs face. All the workshops, discussions and pitch sessions are free to attend for MSMEs! Follow the links below to find out more:  For more information about the Next Generation Africa Forum: https://theafricadebate.com/next-generation-africa-msme-financing For more information about KPMG Private Enterprise: https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/services/enterprise.html

Despite Covid-19 cases rising in North Africa, Radisson Hotel Group has continued to expand in leaps and bounds across the region over the last 18 months, most recently with the announcement of seven new Hotels in Morocco. On today's episode of Invest Africa Insights, we sit down with Alban Mabille, Director, Development - North Africa for Radisson Hotel Group as we discuss the importance of the tourism sector in North Africa and the Group's future expansion plans in the region. For more information about Radisson Hotel Group: https://www.radissonhotelgroup.com/ For more information about Invest Africa: https://www.investafrica.com/

This week on Invest Africa Insights, we spoke to Abhimanyu Yadav, Head of Fixed Income and Currencies, MCB Capital Markets, about investing in the African bond market. Developing local capital markets offers a clear avenue to leverage global capital for underserved African markets. MCB Capital Market's African Domestic Bond Fund presents a means for investors to tap into the growth in Africa's capital markets. Listen to find out more.  For more information about the African Domestic Bond Fund: https://www.mcbcapitalmarkets.mu/en/investment-products/exchange-traded-funds/african-domestic-bond-fund For more information about Invest Africa: www.investafrica.com

MSMEs form the backbone of Africa’s economies and are essential to the Continent’s ambition to drive job creation for its young people. MSMEs account for 38% of Africa’s GDP and account for 70% of the region’s employment. Whilst MSMEs face numerous barriers to growth including low private capital and equity availability, limited small-scale financial products, market access and technical capacity, the opportunities for growth are immense. We spoke with Michelle Anderson, Head of Strategy, Information & Technology Office & Group Digital Partnerships and Andrew Davies, Ecosystem Lead, Group Digital Partnerships at Absa about how Africa's leading corporate and retail bank has been collaborating with start-ups across the continent to support the recovery of the MSME ecosystems in Africa. For more information about Invest Africa: https://www.investafrica.com/

This week on Meet the Entrepreneur, we spoke to Michael Moreland, Co-Founder & CEO of Field Intelligence, a health-tech start-up looking to radically simplify Africa's pharma supply chains. We discussed the need to consolidate Africa's supply chains, the role of the private sector in healthcare and how to maintain momentum towards investment and reform beyond the pandemic. For more information about Field Intelligence: https://field.inc/ For more information about Invest Africa: https://www.investafrica.com/

Economic growth in Asia-Pacific has gone hand in hand with an explosion in the region's business schools. Africa, meanwhile, has lagged behind other developing regions with only a handful of globally recognised business schools. We spoke to Katy Montgomery, Associate Dean of INSEAD about why global business schools are looking to Africa and what priorities are shaping the business leaders of tomorrow.  For more information about ISEAD: https://www.insead.edu/ For more information about Invest Africa: https://www.investafrica.com/

This week on Meet the Entrepreneur we spoke to Nwabisa Mayema, Strategic Partnerships Director at the Branson Centre for Entrepreneurship, about her advice to entrepreneurs, supporting impactful businesses and the importance of patient capital in emerging markets. For more information about the Branson Centre for Entrepreneurship: https://www.bransoncentre.co.za/ For more information about Invest Africa: https://www.investafrica.com/ 

At the IMF Spring Meetings this month Kristalina Georgieva warned of the dangers of a 'multi-speed recovery' and called on the international community to ensure that developing countries have a fair shot at recovery. Amidst mounting concern over African debt we spoke to Simon Quijano-Evans, Chief Economist at Gemcorp, about why he continues to look favourably on African markets and advises investors to focus on the Continent’s fundamentals; a rapidly growing population, instances of genuine reform and an appetite for innovation.   More information about Gemcorp: https://www.gemcorp.net/  More information about Invest Africa: https://www.investafrica.com/

From climate threats to cybersecurity and Covid-19 to insurgencies, navigating the African risk landscape is more complex than ever. This week on Invest Africa Insights we spoke to Oliver Westmacott, President and COO of GardaWorld, the world's largest privately-owned security company, about securing vaccine supply chains in Africa and tackling existing and emerging threats across the Continent. 

This week on Meet the Entrepreneur, we met Derrick Ashong, Founder of AMP Global. Having worked with Oprah and Steven Spielberg, Derrick has received Emmy nominations for his work on the interactive competition, Take Back the Mic. We spoke about empowering African creatives, the future of media consumption, and his plans to build big data solutions for big media in Africa. To register to hear Derrick pitch on The Nest click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-nest-one-year-anniversary-ft-amp-global-and-yobante-express-tickets-142513887875?aff=ebdsoporgprofile For more information about AMP Global click here: https://www.amp.it/ For more information about Invest Africa click here: https://www.investafrica.com/

This week on Meet the Entrepreneur, we spoke to Mohamed Abdou, founder of Pravica, the first blockchain email service provider in the MENA region. We discussed the disruptive potential of the technology to solve some of Africa's most pressing challenges including trust in institutions, financial inclusion and underreported data.  To hear Mohamed's pitch to Invest Africa and Untapped Global's The Nest click here. More about Pravica: https://pravica.io/ More about Invest Africa: https://www.investafrica.com/

This week on Invest Africa Insights we spoke to special guest Jacques Nel, Head of Macro-Economics at NKC African Economics, about the future of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, navigating the challenges of implementation and the potential boom for Africa's service sector. 

This week on Invest Africa Insights we spoke to Bronwyn Knight, CEO of Grit Real Estate Income Group, about the resilience of the African real estate market, her advice to investors looking to diversify their portfolios and the asset classes to watch. For more information about Grit: https://grit.group/ For more information about Invest Africa: https://www.investafrica.com/

To kick off Season 2 of Meet the Entrepreneur, we spoke to Jim Chu, Founder of Untapped Global, about Invest Africa's new collaboration with Untapped and his plan to use smart asset financing to unlock the next billion users. This year, Invest Africa will be partnering with Untapped Global to boost investment in African tech through The Nest, a hybrid pitch series. Join us every month online and across the globe as we hear from Africa's high-impact and high-growth startups.  Link to join The Nest on 18th February: bit.ly/untappedthenest Get in touch at [email protected] for more information about how you can get involved in pitching or investing through The Nest. 

Before the Covid-19 pandemic took hold, there was significant momentum behind towards increased uptake of ESG policies by Africa’s financial institutions with the number of assets under management following ESG principles crossing the $1 trillion mark for the first time just a few months ago. Invest Africa Insights sat down with James Kamau, Chairman of DLA Piper Africa to discuss the impact of Covid-19 of this growing trend and the future of the Continent’s financial institutions.

This week on Invest Africa Insights we spoke to Philippe Valahu, CEO of PIDG about his view of the appetite for African infrastructure investment in global markets and how to best leverage blended financing solutions to build a more robust pipeline of bankable projects for private sector players. For more information about PIDG: https://www.pidg.org/ For more information about The Africa Debate: https://theafricadebate.com/ For more information about Invest Africa: www.investafrica.com 

This week, in a twist on the Meet the Entrepreneur podcast series, we spoke to a guest from the other side of the tech ecosystem. Andreata Muforo, partner at the Venture Capital Fund TLCom Capital, spoke to us about her view of the investment landscape, how to get more women into tech and where TLCom are looking to invest their latest fund.

Are Asian markets the best model for African tech companies? Is the Super App the future of tech? And what exactly is a Super App? This week on Meet the Entrepreneur we speak to Emeka Ajene, Co-Founder of Gozem, the company aiming to be Francophone Africa's Super App, to answer these questions and more. 

Up to 40% medicines sold on the Nigerian pharmaceutical market are falsified and fake or sub-standard medication kills over 100,000 Africans every year. In this episode we speak to an entrepreneur building a secure marketplace for pharmaceutical goods. Vivian Nwakah founded Medsaf in 2017 on the back of personal her personal experience with the dangers of falsified medicines. Since then the company has facilitated 89 million safe pharmaceutical transactions and serviced 160 medical facilities in Nigeria.  Medsaf - https://www.medsaf.com/ Vivian Nwakah - https://www.linkedin.com/in/viviannwakah/ Invest Africa - https://investafrica.com/

This week on Invest Africa Insights, we speak to Kirsty Chadwick, Group CEO of TTRO, on the digitalisation of Africa's education services, the impact of COVID-19 on traditional teaching models and how TTRO is beating the curve to become Africa's leading education provider. Invest Africa is a leading pan-African business platform that promotes trade and investment in Africa. In this podcast series we will explore Africa's key economic trends and the issues facing businesses and investors across the continent.

This week on Meet the Entrepreneur we speak to Chijioke Dozie, Co-Founder & CEO of Carbon, on the digitalisation of Africa's financial services,  the launch of Carbon Express and the future of Africa's fintech sector. Invest Africa is a leading pan-African business platform that promotes trade and investment in Africa. In this podcast series we will explore Africa's key economic trends and the issues facing businesses and investors across the continent.

Following the success of Invest Africa Insights' webinar examining the Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI) across Africa, we took a deep dive into the challenges and opportunities affecting the East Africa region, touching on importance of regional integration and community-led projects, investment opportunities within the sector and the role of the CCI sector in East Africa as a catalyst for female employment and empowerment. Thank you to all our participants for sharing their expertise: Roberta Annan, Managing Partner, Annan Capital Partners & UNEP Goodwill Ambassador for The Creative Economy, Eugene Kavuma, CEO and Co-Founder, Kampala Design Week and Wakiuru Njuguna, Partner, HEVA Fund. Invest Africa is a leading pan-African business platform that promotes trade and investment in Africa. In this podcast series we will explore Africa's key economic trends and the issues facing businesses and investors across the continent.

As the scale of the impact of COVID-19 on the global economy crystallises, we spoke to Jacques Nel, Head of Africa Macroeconomics at NKC African Economics, about levels of resilience in African economies in the face of the crisis.  Invest Africa members are eligible for a discount of 20% on any Oxford Economics subscription products purchased before 31st August, which can be used to inform business strategy, aid COVID-19 recovery plans and provide impartial data on the African region. Please click on the following link for more information: http://resources.oxfordeconomics.com/a-special-offer-to-invest-africa-members Invest Africa is a leading pan-African business platform that promotes trade and investment in Africa. In this podcast series we will explore Africa's key economic trends and the issues facing  businesses and investors across the continent. www.investafrica.com 

This week on Meet the Entrepreneur we speak to Onyeka Akumah, Co-Founder of Plentywaka, about the future of mobility in Nigeria, how to unlock savings for investment and the tech-driven projects to watch in 2020.  Invest Africa is a leading pan-African business platform that promotes trade and investment in Africa. In this podcast series we will explore Africa's key economic trends and the issues facing businesses and investors across the continent.

Invest Africa is a leading pan-African business platform that promotes trade and investment in Africa. In this podcast series we will explore Africa's key economic trends and the issues facing businesses and investors across the continent. In our next episode of Meet the Mover, Invest Africa Insights speaks Gonçalo Neves-Correia, Partner & Chief Executive Officer, ThirdWay Africa about securing Africa's supply chains and the future of agriculture post-Covid. 

COVID-19 has not only brought the financial challenges facing the world to the forefront of everyone’s minds, but has shed a particular lens to the dire situation many African economies and companies face. Already we have seen high debt levels, now exacerbated by commodity price declines, currency woes and investor flight to safe haven assets; Africa perhaps faces a credit crisis of epic proportions. In the first instalment, Invest Africa Insight’s ‘Africa’s Funding Conundrum?’ webinar series provided the view from the international investment community. In this webinar we will continue the conversation but feature industry leaders from African institutions on how they will address the financing requirements, liquidity support and credit available to the continent. Globally we see central banks and governments alike flooding their economies with unprecedented levels of support and stimulus; will Africa benefit or be left to its own designs? Thank you to to our moderator, Sanjeev Gupta, Executive Director, Africa Finance Corporation and to our panellists: Edward Marlow, Managing Director, Global Markets, Credit Suisse, Lesley Ndlovu, CEO, African Risk Capacity, Mervyn Shanmugam, CEO Alternatives, Sanlam Investments and Anita Yadav, Partner, Aspire Cap and Founding Board Member of The Gulf Bond and Sukuk Association.

Invest Africa is a leading pan-African business platform that promotes trade and investment in Africa. In this podcast series we will explore Africa's key economic trends and the issues facing businesses and investors across the continent. In our next episode of Meet the Entrepreneur, Invest Africa Insights speaks Sim Shagaya, Founder & CEO of uLesson to look at how technology will shape the future of education across Africa in light of the pandemic, the story and secrets behind uLesson’s massive seed funding round and where next for the star in Africa's edutech space.

Between 2010 and Q1 2020, Nigerian issuers raised $1.5 bn through IPOs globally, 8.8% of the value raised by African issuers, and $3.0 bn through further offers, 4.1% of the value raised by African issuers. In the non-local currency debt markets, during the same period, $10.2 bn was raised by Nigerian issuers, 18.6% of the value raised by African issuers. In the local currency debt market, between 2014 and Q1 2020, N668 bn was raised domestically through bonds, and N1.6 trn in commercial papers. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, not only has the momentum in fundraising come to a halt globally, but Africa, and Nigeria particularly, is expected to suffer the most in the face of ratings downgrades and investors re-balancing their portfolios away from emerging markets. Invest Africa and PwC invite you to our joint webinar examining the future of the primary capital markets as a source of capital for Nigerian corporate issuers in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our panel of experts will discuss the immediate impact on public fundraising activity in Nigeria, how investors and issuers are adjusting to the new market dynamics, and explore opportunities for Nigeria to learn and grow in the midst of the crisis. Thank you to our moderator, Alice Tomdio, Director, Capital Markets Service, PwC (Moderator) and to our panellists: Ijeoma Abgoti, Managing Director / CEO of FBNQuest Funds, Chinua Azubike, CEO of InfraCredit, Jumoke Olaniyan, Vice-President, Market Architecture of FMDQ Securities Exchange Limited and Dave Uduanu, CEO of Sigma Funds.

In the second episode of Invest Africa’s global series, we will host a discussion of current thinking in Washington how the US can assist African countries in the fight against COVID and economic recovery. How can US companies lead in shaping the next iteration in US-Africa policy? Thank you to our moderator, Aubrey Hruby, Founder of insiderPR & Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and to our speakers: Gyude Moore, Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Development, Philippe Dongier, Government Affairs & Policy Leader, GE Africa and Zemedeneh Negatu, Global Chairman, Fairfax Africa Fund, LLC.

North Africa boasts some of the continent’s fastest growing economies and has seen major multinationals move into these markets. Join Invest Africa’s webinar for an expert outlook on investment opportunities into North Africa. Thank you to our speakers: Sabrine Hassen, Associate Managing Director, K2 Intelligence, Nabil Frik, Managing Director, Client Coverage AME, British Arab Commercial Bank and Albert Alsina, Founder & CEO, Mediterranea Capital Partners.

In the first episode of Invest Africa’s global series, we will host a discussion of current thinking in London on how the UK can assist African countries in the fight against COVID and economic recovery. How will UK policy-makers and businesses sustain and promote trade across Africa? Thank you to Rt. Hon. Mark Simmonds, Former Minister for Africa and Chairman of the IA Advisory Board for moderating the webinar, and to our panellists: Emma Wade-Smith OBE, Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Africa, Department for International Trade, Ibukun Adebayo, Director, Co-Head Emerging Markets, London Stock Exchange Group, Tenbite Ermias, Managing Director, Africa, CDC Group, Lullu Krugel, Partner and Chief Economist, PwC South Africa and Dr. Matt Lilley, CEO Africa, Prudential plc.

While Africa had experienced tempered economic growth over the past decade, real estate had emerged as an opportunistic market. Now, in light of COVID-19, will continent-wide investment in real estate come to a complete stop or will we see the sector as a continued investment prospect? How will the acceleration of Africa’s technology adoption continue to bridge the gap in any property deficits? Thank you to our moderator, James Charnaud, Director, EMC Real Estate and to our speakers: Bronwyn Corbett, CEO, Grit Real Estate Income Group, James Mworia, CEO, Centum Investments, Ramsay Rankoussi, Head of Development, Africa, Radisson Hotel Group and Ben Woodhams, Managing Director, Knight Frank Kenya. Thank you to our partners, Jersey Finance.

Environmental and social governance (ESG) has been an area of great uncertainty and has caused disinvestment across the mining sector. What does COVID-19 mean and what is the effect that it is having on the ground across Africa? The mining industry must reconfigure and prepare itself to operate under a new normal, where it can operate and sustain itself under the new constraints and challenges that this pandemic brings. Listen to the latest episode in the IA Insights series on the future of mining in Africa post COVID-19. Thank you to Claire Lawrie, Senior Managing Director – Energy & Natural Resources Lead, FTI Consulting for moderating the conversation so excellently and to our panellists: Froydis Cameron, Group Head of International & Government Relations, Anglo America, Lawrence Dechambenoit, Vice-President, Corporate Relations EMEA, Rio Tinto and Daphne Mashile-Nkosi, Chairperson, Kalagadi Manganese Ltd.

The African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (AVCA) and Invest Africa invite you to listen to our joint webinar, examining the future of private equity in Africa in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our panel of experts discuss what the immediate impacts on investment opportunities across the continent, how investors and LPs can overcome the liquidity issues they are now facing and how private equity firms are maintaining portfolio companies’ operations through the crisis. Thank you to our moderator, Chris Baird, Partner, DLA Piper and to our speakers: ‘Tokunboh Ishmael, Managing Director, Alitheia IDF, Natalie Kolbe, Partner, Actis, Yemi Lalude, Managing Partner, Africa, TPG Growth, Andreata Muforo, Partner, TLcom Capital and Jurie Swart, CEO, African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM).

Countries across Africa have access to just 1 per cent of the world’s financial resources for health but bear 24 per cent of the global burden of disease, according to the World Health Organisation. With the Aliko Dangote Foundation forming the African Business Coalition for Health in 2017, global private sector players have increasingly turned their attention to the need to close the healthcare gap across the continent. In light of the spread of COVID-19, Invest Africa brings together a panel of experts to examine the future of Africa’s healthcare, how policy-makers must adapt and what steps investors must take in order to bridge the healthcare gap. Thank to our moderator, Michael Strain, Partner, Clyde & Co and to our speakers: Frances Eberhard, Head of Africa, Speyside Group, Wayne Hennessy-Barrett, CEO and Co-Founder, 4G Capital and Tito Ovia, Co-Founder, Helium Health.

According to the World Economic Forum, the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to upwards of 265 million people globally at risk of starvation. Listen to Invest Africa Ltd's panel of experts as they discuss the future of food security in Africa in light of the COVID-19 crisis, how the pandemic will create the catalyst to implement new innovative solutions and what roles DFIs and multi-laterals will play in facilitating those investment solutions? Thank you to Simon Buchler, Senior Associate, BCLP for chairing the panel and to our speakers: Peter Njonjo, CEO & Co-Founder, Twiga Foods, Marco Serena, Head of Development Impact, PIDG and Milkah Wachiuri, COO – Marketplace, Cellulant.

Invest Africa is a leading pan-African business platform that promotes trade and investment in Africa. In this podcast series we will explore Africa's key economic trends and the issues facing businesses and investors across the continent. The Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) estimates that 30m jobs on the continent are at risk. Listen to our interview with Fred Swaniker, Founder & CEO of African Leadership Group to look at the impact of COVID-19 on human capital in Africa, how technology will shape the future of education across the continent in light of the pandemic and the importance of leadership decisiveness for African organisations to weather the storm. Thank you to Nicholas Norbrook, Managing Director of The Africa Report for chairing the discussion and to our partners, Jersey Finance.

Invest Africa Insights invites you to listen to our webinar examining the impact of COVID-19 on the renewable sector in Africa, how private sector investments can provide renewable energy access to the 600 million people still requiring energy access in Africa, and whether with the right policy framework and investment, Africa could meet a quarter of its energy needs through renewable sources by 2030. Thank you to Rosalind Kainyah, Founder & Managing Director, Kina Advisory for chairing the panel so expertly and to Jennifer Boca, Head of ESG, Lekela Power, Mansoor Hamayun, CEO & Co-Founder, BBOXX and Scott Mackin, Managing Director, London, Denham Capital for your contribution.  Thank you also to our partners Jersey Finance.

COVID-19 has not only brought the financial challenges facing the world to the forefront of everyone’s minds, but has shed a particular lens to the dire situation many African economies and companies face. Already we have seen high debt levels, now exacerbated by commodity price declines, currency woes and investor flight to safe haven assets; Africa perhaps faces a credit crisis of epic proportions. Invest Africa’s Insights into ‘Africa’s Funding Conundrum’ webinar disscusses the role of multilaterals to provide liquidity support and credit enhancements to the continent . Globally we have seen central banks and governments alike flooding their economies with unprecedented levels of support and stimulus; will Africa benefit or be left to its own designs? Can Africa weather this without immediate and sustained support from the global institutions.  In partnership with Jersey Finance. 

Invest Africa and the Norwegian African Business Association invite you to listen our joint webinar on the oil & gas webinar, looking at the recent oil price crash and the effects this will have on the industry, what the impact of COVID19 on future exploration across the region and what does this mean for key exporting countries like Nigeria, Angola, Gabon, etc.? Thank you to our moderator Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani, Managing Director, EnergyInc. Advisors and to our panelists: John Hamilton, CEO, Panoro Energy, Neil Jamieson Fraser, head of Noble Denton Services, Region UK and West Africa, DNV GL Limited, Kola Karim, Group CEO and MD of Shoreline Natural Resources and Natznet Tesfay, Executive Director, IHS Markit.

Invest Africa is a leading pan-African business platform that promotes trade and investment in Africa. In this podcast series we will explore Africa's key economic trends and the issues facing businesses and investors across the continent. Invest Africa Insights sits down with Amadou Daffe, CEO & Co-Founder of Gebeya Inc., to talk about the company's monumental rise as a new-age EdTech company that is centre of excellence for African IT talent. From early beginnings to the mega seed funding round led by Partech and Orange, Gebeya exploded onto the African tech scene, led by Amadou himself to create a self-sustainable ecosystem that trains, hires and cultivates top talented African Software Engineers. We examine Gebeya's standing as an incubator and accelerator for techpreneurs operating across the continent, the importance of African-led training academies and advice for fellow entrepreneurs looking to raise funding in a post-corona world.

Invest Africa is a leading pan-African business platform that promotes trade and investment in Africa. In this podcast series we will explore Africa's key economic trends and the issues facing businesses and investors across the continent. Don't miss our latest podcast in the 'Meet the Entrepreneur' series with Bolaj Akinboro, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Cellulant as we discuss investment opportunities for start-ups and entrepreneurs in Africa, Cellulant's superapp Tinng and the role agribusiness plays in Africa development.

In light of announcements from Virgin Australia and Air Mauritius, Invest Africa Insights held an extended webinar on the COVID-19 crisis and how it will impact the aviation sector in Africa. Panellists discussed the future for the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, whether countries across the continent should continue with the 'National Carriers' model, pilot shortages and the potential for relaxation on business leases in both private and commercial aviation. Thank you to Rob Hersov, Chairman of Invest Africa for chairing the discussion, Tony Payne, Partner at DLA Piper for moderating the conversation so expertly and to our panellists:  Rodger Foster, CEO of Airlink, James Hogan, Executive Chairman of Knighthood Capital Partners, Allan Kilavuka, Group CEO of Kenya Airways, Yvonne Makolo, CEO of Rwandair and Nick van der Meer, COO of Vistajet for your invaluable contributions. For more information on Invest Africa and our upcoming Insights programme, please visit www.investafrica.com

Invest Africa is a leading pan-African business platform that promotes trade and investment in Africa. In this podcast series we will explore Africa's key economic trends and the issues facing businesses and investors across the continent. South Africa is a country that is used to dealing with adversity. But how does our economy cope with a pandemic, the resultant lockdown and a downgrade to sub-investment status from Moody’s? Listen to what JP Landman, independent political and trend analyst, has to say about South Africa’s resilience. Could their unique past be the differentiating factor that helps us cope with their current challenges? Listen to Invest Africa's  podcast with JP Landman. Thank you to Nedbank Private Wealth for partnering with Invest Africa on this episode.

Logistics plays the crucial role in ensuring trade in Africa can go ahead both within the continent and with the rest of the world. As African economies grow, the demand for reliable and efficient ways of transporting goods between businesses and consumers will further increase. Currently, it is well known that logistics infrastructure in Africa lags behind that of the rest of the world: existing port facilities are not developed enough to handle existing requirements and the cost of transportation is exorbitant - often accounts for 50-75% of the cost of the goods themselves, which is around 2-3 times higher than in more developed countries. As African economies continue to grow, so will the logistics sector as it responds to demand for the effective and reliable transportation of goods. Ultimately, this will benefit consumers; providing new jobs and cheaper goods by lowering costs. Thank you to our moderator, Sanjeev Gupta, Executive Director, Africa Finance Corporation and to our panellists, Gagan Gupta, Managing Director & CEO, Infrastructure & Logistics, Olam International, Peeyush Garg, Chairman & Founder, Daraju Industries and Geoffrey White, Chief Executive Officer, Agility Africa.

Since 1994, Rwanda has been a shining light in Africa with regards to economic development. The country has delivered impressive numbers in terms of average economic growth (around 7% increase year on year) and witnessed ever increasing foreign direct investment. With Covid-19 starting to spread across Africa, the true extent and the impact of the virus is yet to be seen. African governments have escalated their readiness to tackle the virus and Invest Africa is delighted to welcome His Excellency, President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda who gives an update to global investors and businesses on how the country is preparing for the challenge along with other leaders on the continent.

For Invest Africa Insights' first episode in our 'Meet the Entrepreneur' series, we spoke to Ife Oyedele II, Co-Founder at Kobo360 on how the company has changed the logistics landscape in Africa, sustainability in the industry, implementation of the AfCFTA and key advice for other entrepreneurs operating in Africa.

Francophone Africa boasts some of the continent’s fastest growing economies and has seen major Anglophone multinationals move into these markets. With uncertainty around the future of the Eco currency in Francophone Africa, and upcoming elections in both Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, Patrick Smith, Editor-in-Chief of The Africa Report leads the discussion with our expert panel to discuss the implications of a new currency in the region. Thank you to our panellist: Patrick Smith, Editor-in-Chief, The Africa Report (moderator), Douty Fadiga, Partner, Deals Leader, Sub-Saharan Francophone Africa, PwC, Emmanuel Kwapong, Associate Director, Sub-Saharan Africa Economist, Standard Chartered Bank and Aurélien Mali, Vice-President, Senior Credit Officer, Sovereign Risk Group, Moody’s Investors Group. For more information about Invest Africa Insights, please visit: https://investafrica.com/invest-africa-insights/

Invest Africa sits down with H.E. Dr. Eyob Tekalign Tolina, Ethiopia's State Minister of Finance for insight into how the country is combating coronavirus, the current state of the economic reform agenda and an update on Ethiopia's upcoming elections.

Following stepped up measures in South Africa, Rwanda, Senegal and Madagascar, the cross-continental call for debt relief and falling oil prices over the last month, all eyes are on African governments for firm responses to the COVID-19 crisis. Invest Africa invites you to listen to our webinar for an update on coronavirus and the new challenges for Africa. Touching on the economic outlook for the continent in light of a slowing global growth and a slump in commodity prices, our panel of experts will discuss how organisations can firm up their investments and what steps must be taken in order to safeguard for the future. Thank you to our panellists: Francois Conradie, Senior Political Economist, NKC African Economist,Peter Gray, Co-Managing Partner, Al Dahbashi Gray, Charles Robertson, Global Chief Economist and Head of Macro-Strategy Unit, Renaissance Capital.

Rob Hersov, Founder and Chairman of Invest Africa, sits down with Dr Doom for a tough discussion on his view of the US and world economy in this current crisis. Nouriel will give his predictions - a recession that he believes will be more severe than 2008, and his expectations for more “white swans” (in addition to the virus pandemic), which will further derail the global order. And what can be done to stabilise the world.

Rob Hersov, Chairman, Invest Africa sits down with Mmusi Maimane, Lead Activist for ONE SA MOVEMENT and former Leader of South Africa’s opposition Democratic Alliance, and Peter Attard Montalto, Director, Intellidex UK to discuss the post-Zuma era in South Africa and the future for the country.

As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to spread, the economic impact on African markets remains uncertain. With the number of cases globally now surpassing 100,000 and the FTSE suffering its biggest intraday fall since 2008, is the global economy heading from recession? How will falling oil prices impact African exporters? What will the long-term impact of a global pandemic be? Listen Invest Africa’s podast with Vincent Rouget, Control Risks, Arshad Abba, Canback Consulting and David Murrin, Global Forecaster moderated by Nicholas Norbrook, The Africa Report for an expert outlook on the coronavirus’s impact on businesses in Africa.

There is great potential for innovation and growth in Africa’s female entrepreneurs; Africa is the only region in the world where more women than men choose to become entrepreneurs, they may be the ‘Future of the Africa Continent’, as the World Bank notes. Yet challenges remain to female entrepreneurs trying to grow their businesses: lack of access to capital due to insufficient collateral, discriminatory property rights in some regions, as well as cultural and psycho-sociological constraints. The role for investors in combatting  these challenges has been increasing in prominence, indicated by the rise of gender-smart and gender-lens investing.  Invest Africa invites you to listen to our panel experts discussing these challenges and strategies for solutions across Africa.

Recording of the Control Risks - Invest Africa Webinar 'South Africa - Politics and Succession from Thursday 2nd November 2017. With Seamus Duggan and Barnaby Fletcher of Control Risks. Chair, Alex Lambeth of Invest Africa

Chair - Lanre Akinola, Invest Africa Welcome - Karen Taylor, CEO, Invest Africa and David Lamb, Chairman, Business Council for Africa Opening Statement - Arnold Ekpe, Hon. President, Business Council for Africa