Africa Economy

The African PE industry has become increasingly complex and diverse, with the arrival of global institutional investors in recent years paving the way for some of the world’s largest firms to enter the market. Between 2014 and 2019 the total value of the 1053 PE deals reported in Africa reached $25.4bn. While deal volumes have maintained an upward trend, their value has gradually eased, suggesting growing investor interest but smaller deal sizes. Moreover, in addition to consumer-driven industries, PE fund managers have diversified their strategies to invest across a variety of sectors such as IT, renewable energy, infrastructure and real estate.

With Covid-19 facilitating the widespread adoption of remote working practices, some emerging markets are seeking to attract digital nomads through a series of incentives and special visas.

– Global supply chains severely disrupted by Covid-19

– Multinationals turn to China +1 and nearshoring

– Worldwide increase in regionalisation and localisation

– Major regional trade deals signed or accelerated

– Efforts to address structural vulnerabilities to the economic and health effects of Covid-19

– Significant private sector stimulus complemented the public response

– Despite severe economic fallout, a number of countries recorded positive growth

– Implementation of AfCFTA to support greater regional trade in the future