Despite headwinds Africa remains on the investor map
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Despite headwinds Africa remains on the investor map
At WhyAfrica we are optimistic about Africa despite currency and geopolitical concerns.
By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and Endorphin Expeditions and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine.
Despite global economic and political turmoil Africa presents a range of opportunities for those investors with an appetite for risk.
According to several research reports East Africa will be the fastest-growing region in Africa this year, with countries like Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Kenya expected to see growth.
Uganda’s growth will be fuelled by public investments in oil and infrastructure, while Rwanda, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Kenya will benefit from private investments in energy and mining.
Africa the next frontier
Africa is without a doubt the next frontier of global growth and productivity. The African continent has an unrivalled natural resource endowment, with the youngest population of all continents.
My pick of top 10 African countries in 2025 are Botswana (mining, agriculture and tourism); Tanzania (infrastructure, mining, tourism); Angola (infrastructure, mining, agriculture); Zambia (mining and agriculture); Morocco (tourism and mining); South Africa (energy, agriculture, mining and tourism); Senegal (mining and infrastructure), Kenya (technology and tourism) Namibia (energy, mining and tourism) and Nigeria (hydrocarbons).
Africa still on the investment radar
Despite its internal and external quibbles, South Africa is still on the investor map, especially for European and Middle Eastern investors, and with a few interesting projects on the horizon, remains on my radar.
There are also countries like Ethiopia (agriculture, mining and tourism) Guinea (mining [Simandou] and rail infrastructure), Ghana (mining) Uganda (oil and gas and mineral exploration) and Cameroon (infrastructure and mineral exploration) that has given positive signals.
We are also following a few interesting project developments in Eswatini and Lesotho that WhyAfrica will visit later this year as part of the 2025 WhyAfrica Road Trip.
Push by America, Russia and China
Despite President Donald Trump’s tariff wars and protectionist ideology most African countries are finding their feet after a chaotic start to the year, but all considered, it is not all doom and gloom.
Trump’s chosen countries in Africa will, of course, stand to benefit from a renewed American push into the Central Southern African region in pursuit of access to the much talked about critical minerals, while Russia is expanding its influence in West Africa and China continues to make inroads across the continent.
Continue following WhyAfrica as we track developments across Africa.
Remember that WhyAfrica members can access WhyAfrica’s Road Trip Channel which will allow them to get live updates and daily information during our annual WhyAfrica Road Trips through Africa.
To sign up as a member, visit the WhyAfrica website, your one-stop-shop for on the ground information and business intelligence about Africa.
Image credit: James Wiseman from Unsplash
Despite headwinds Africa remains on the investor map
