Global Foreign Investment Declines for Second Year As Geopolitical Tensions Rise, UN Trade Body Reports

June 20, 2024--Foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by two per cent to $1.3 trillion in 2023 amid global economic slowdown and rising geopolitical tensions, according to a report released on Thursday by the UN trade and development body, UNCTAD.

The 2024 World Investment Report highlighted that insufficient funding is hindering efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, underscoring the urgent need for policies to bolster finance.

"Investment is not just about capital flows; it is about human potential, environmental stewardship and the enduring pursuit of a more equitable and sustainable world," said Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

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South Africa: African Development Bank Country Focus Report highlights urgent need for economic transformation as GDP growth remains subdued

July 4, 2025-African Development Bank calls for strategic reforms to unlock South Africa's $3 trillion capital potential
South Africa's GDP growth declined to 0.6% in 2024 from 0.7% in 2023, underscoring the need for critical action and strategic reforms to unlock the country's vast capital resources and accelerate economic growth, the African Development Bank emphasized in its Country Focus report launched on Wednesday.

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Africa's Trade Projected to Hit $1.5 Trillion in 2025

July 1, 2025--Trade is set to expand at an average of 5.1 per cent a year through 2026, before quickening to 5.4 per cent by 2028.

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National stock exchange launched in Somalia

June 26, 2025-The National Securities Exchange of Somalia (NSES) held its formal launch on 19 June 2025, according to this report on Xinhua. A coalition of local investors and financial experts established the exchange and it will start by operating as a private, self-regulatory organization, according to a statement issued in Mogadishu. The Central Bank of Somalia has pledged full technical support with the aim of ensuring international best practices are followed.

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East Africa's regional 20 share index

June 24, 2025-The National Securities Exchange of Somalia (NSES) is joining the Somali Stock Exchange as a member of the East African Securities Exchanges Association (EASEA), which brings together the exchanges of Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia, as well as Burundi when that exchange will be launched.

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