Economic reforms are tempting finance back to Ethiopia and Zambia

August 15, 2024--Pockets of the African continent have found ways of giving new confidence to investors and the World Bank and IMF
As the west has diverted aid to Ukraine and Gaza, Africa faces neglect. A few countries on the continent have panicked and turned to Russia, while the prudent are embracing economic reforms to attract foreign direct investment.

Among the latter, financial markets are most familiar with South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria. In each, reform of the real economy is under way but has hit the constraints of patronage politics. The people don't trust their governments with the higher taxes without which the state remains dependent upon rising indebtedness. Meanwhile, unnoticed by the markets, Ethiopia and Zambia are embracing sustainable reforms, in each case big enough to warrant investor interest.

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.

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.

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.