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IMF-Boosting Growth and Prosperity in South Africa
March 10, 2025-Summary
Improving the business environment, strengthening governance, and reforming the labor market are among the keys to economic success
South Africa is well-positioned to confront significant longstanding challenges that have been holding the economy back: declining real per-capital income, persistent unemployment, pervasive poverty, and one of the highest inequality rates in the world.
These outcomes reflect deepening structural rigidities and governance weaknesses, evidenced by the negative contribution of Total Factor Productivity to growth over the past 15 years.
A new Government of National Unity, in power since June 2024, has committed to tackle these challenges by providing new impetus to the ongoing structural reforms initiated in 2020.
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Source: imf.org
How Africa could help diversify the booming global semiconductor industry
March 6, 2025-- Demand for semiconductors is booming amid growth in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Countries and regions including the US and EU want to diversify semiconductor supply chains; Africa offers many benefits for semiconductor manufacturing.
With the right policies and increased investment, African countries could play a key role in the future diversification of the semiconductor industry.
The global semiconductor industry is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by rising demand, geopolitical shifts and the need for more diversified and resilient supply chains. The US, EU and Japan are all actively seeking to diversify their semiconductor supply chains and semiconductor manufacturing is now at an inflection point as a result.
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Source: weforum.org
OECD-Africa's Urbanisation Dynamics 2025
March 6, 2025--Planning for Urban Expansion
Abstract
Africa's Urbanisation Dynamics 2025 provides the most comprehensive view of projected urbanisation dynamics to date, with detailed insights into urban population growth and spatial expansion in over 11 000 urban agglomerations across Africa's 54 countries.
Over the next three decades, Africa's urban population will double, increasing from 700 million to 1.4 billion by 2050, making it the continent with the second largest urban population after Asia.
The report examines the implications of this growth for urban planning, governance and financing. It provides projections, insights and actionable recommendations tailored for policy makers, local governments, development partners and experts. Africa's urban transition represents both a pressing challenge and a transformative opportunity. With proactive planning, effective governance and innovative financing, cities can become engines of inclusive economic growth. It is essential to act now to manage urban growth in ways that foster sustainability, inclusion and resilience, paving the way for a thriving urban future.
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Source: oecd.org
Nigeria: 2025 Budget Prioritises Investment in Critical Sectors, Economic Devt-Govt
March 4, 2025--March 4, 2025--The Federal government says the 2025 budget, recently signed into law by President Tinubu, is a strategic roadmap for economic resilience, social stability, and national progress.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who stated this at the 2025 Third Edition of the Ministerial Press Briefing Session held on Tuesday at the National Press Centre, Abuja, said this year's budget places a renewed focus on investment in critical sectors that directly impact the well-being and socio-economic development of the country.
"The 2025 budget is not just a financial document; it is a bold statement of intent--a roadmap for economic resilience, social stability, and national progress. The budget has demonstrated a renewed focus on security, infrastructure, education, health, solid minerals, agriculture, and other key areas that have a direct impact on the well-being and socio-economic development of the country.
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Source: allafrica.com
New World Bank Report Highlights Four Pathways to Spur Job Creation and Inclusive Growth in South Africa
February 28, 2025--A new World Bank report titled "Driving Inclusive Growth in South Africa: Quick Wins with Competitive Markets and Efficient Institutions" asserts that a robust economic recovery, shared across all sectors of society, can be achieved in the immediate future by implementing a series of policy actions in four priority areas: infrastructure services, greater private sector participation, creating cities as engines of growth, and efficient public spending.
This recovery, in turn, has the potential to create the millions of jobs that South Africans need to improve their lives, exit poverty, and contribute to the economy.
Over the past decade, South Africa has struggled to expand its economy, growing by only 0.7% per year, which is four times slower than other middle-income countries. As a result, real GDP per capita is now around the same level as it was in 2007. Economic opportunities also remained deeply unequal, with two-thirds of South Africans living in poverty and 40% of adults, primarily young people and women, either unemployed or discouraged from looking for a job. This figure represents the world’s highest unemployment rate.
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Digital public infrastructure (DPI) will drive AI for Africa's economic transformation
For instance, AI has the potential to add up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, with Africa contributing an estimated $1.2 trillion. Achieving this will require innovative strategies that leverage these technology partnerships with the private sector to invest in infrastructure that serves the public good. The adoption of the African Union Continental AI Strategy in 2024 was yet another indicator of African leaders' resolve to leverage data and technology for Africa's development. view more
Nigeria: Investments in Mutual Funds Rise 80.8 Percent to N4.1trn Stanbic IBTC Asset Management's Money Market Fund was the most active accounting for 45.83% of the Fund's NAV. Following it was FBNQuest recording 20.43% of the NAV, while Cardinalstone Money Market Fund accounted for 7.5% of the NAV. view more
Zimbabwe: Deepseek Will Hardly Dent 'Magnificent Seven' Stocks
Few are cutting their exposure to the S&P 500, an index dominated by the massive tech companies. view more
South African growth outlook has improved but inflation risks abound, central bank says at Davos view more
JSE plunges to lowest level in four months view more
Source: worldbank.org
February 11, 2025-Recent developments within Africa's digital ecosystem will help drive Africa's economic transformation, but key policy frameworks and infrastructure are needed for most countries to benefit fully.
The AU Data Policy Framework was adopted in 2022, followed by the passage of national-level data protection policies and strategies in about 40 African countries.
This lays the initial foundation for safe and ethical digital transformation. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, blockchain, and big data can significantly contribute to GDP and job creation in Africa.
Source: acetforafrica.org
February 4, 2025--The appetite of Nigerian investors for Mutual Funds has surged with its total asset under management increasing by 80.8% Year on Year, YoY, to N4.1 trillion on January 24, 2025 from N2.3 trillion in the corresponding period 2024.
Data released by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has shown that Money Market Funds were the most patronised as it recorded the highest asset value of N1.887 trillion and accounted for 45.81% of the total Net Asset Value, NAV of the Mutual Funds.
Source: allafrica.com
February 3, 2025--DeepSeek's emergence roiled markets earlier last week, but investors see limited scope for the Chinese artificial intelligence startup to dent the performance of the Magnificent Seven, the latest Bloomberg Markets Live Pulse survey showed.
The decision follows ongoing liquidity challenges in several frontier markets, which have been exacerbated by delays in the repatriation of funds in dollars.
Of the 260 respondents, 88 percent said the debut of the startup's latest model- which wiped US$784 billion from the S&P 500 last Monday-will have little to no impact on the shares of the US technology behemoths in coming weeks.
Source: allafrica.com
January 21, 2025--Growth in Africa's most industrialised economy could be close to 2% in 2025, versus the 1.1% growth projected for 2024
South Africa's economic outlook is better this year than last, but the inflation picture is more muddied as risks abound, its central bank governor said on Tuesday.
South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Governor Lesetja Kganyago told Reuters in an interview at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, that growth in Africa's most industrialised economy could be close to 2% in 2025, versus the 1.1% growth projected for 2024.
Source: zawya.com
January 14, 2025-- Industrial stocks recorded the biggest losses.
It was a sea of red on the JSE on Monday, with the bourse closing 1.7% down, at 82 046 points- its lowest level since mid-September.
Earlier in the day, the JSE All Share Index (Alsi) fell over 1.8% and below the 82 000 level, before recovering some losses. The Top 40 ended Monday 1.79% down. Industrial stocks fell more than 2%, while financials were 1.89% lower.
Source: moneyweb.co.za
