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...

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...

Welcome to the first episode of The Payments Exchange mini-series. Over the course of four episodes, we will explore the payments ecosystem across the African continent with Crown Agents Bank and a guest expert. In this episode, Chris Partridge, VP & Head of Bank and Non-Bank Financial institutions at Crown Agents Bank, and Mark O'Sullivan, CEO of IPT Africa dive into the dynamic landscape of payment systems in Africa, highlighting the current trends and challenges shaping the industry...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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