Author: The Exchange

At AfDB annual forum, policymakers note that Africa must roll out policies that enable its capital—both financial and human—to work better and harder for its development. Leaders note that success of Agenda 20263 depends on the continent’s ability in capital deployment, ensuring it effectively and addresses long-standing structural inefficiencies. To-date, infrastructure woes, fragmented financial markets, and joblessness among youth continue to undermine the continent’s growth. Africa stands at the threshold of a new era — one defined not by its challenges but by the vastness of its opportunities. As the world’s youngest continent, home to a growing population projected to…

Strategic investment deepens AFC’s influence in mining infrastructure, unlocks export potential in Côte d’Ivoire and Mali. Both Côte d’Ivoire and Mali possess vast untapped reserves and are primed for scalable commercial extraction. Latest transaction also cements AFC’s deepening partnership with Mota-Engil Africa, which began in earnest in 2016. The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has extended a $113.2 million (€100 million), five-year term credit line to Mota-Engil Africa (MEA), the regional affiliate of Portuguese construction heavyweight Mota-Engil Group. The facility will finance capital expenditures including heavy equipment, inventories, and site infrastructure for the execution of three high-value gold mining contracts in…

This expansion drive comes on the heels of Hyatt’s impressive 51 per cent rooms growth across Africa in the past two years alone. “Last year marked a breakthrough for Hyatt in Africa, and we’re just getting started,” states Stephen Ansell, Managing Director, Hyatt, Middle East and Africa. An outstanding feature of the hotel’s African strategy is the dual-brand model—a cost-effective and flexible solution for rapidly urbanizing cities. As global hospitality brands sharpen their focus on untapped and emerging markets, one name is charting an ambitious course across Africa: Hyatt Hotels Corporation. The US-based multinational is betting big on the continent’s…

Ai Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya techshow is billed to position Kenya at the heart of Africa’s digital revolution. GITEX show continues to offer access to new markets, capital, talents, relationships, and investment opportunities. Event is also expected to inspire new public-private partnership projects, attract investment, scale technologies, and propel Kenya’s digital transformation. Kenya is stepping boldly onto the global tech stage. As the nation doubles down on its strategic investments in digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, hyperscale data centres, and green industrialisation, a landmark announcement is set to propel its innovation narrative even further: the launch of Ai Everything Kenya…

E-commerce in Africa has received a timely boost with digital payment giants Pesawise and Cross Switch have teaming up to accelerate the segment’s growth. Their collaboration aims at addressing persistent challenges of fragmented payment systems, high transaction fees, and slow settlements. The firms say their partnership is poised to deliver tailored, regulatory-compliant solutions that ensure speed, security, and affordability. Global payments innovator Cross Switch has teamed up with Kenya’s homegrown fintech Pesawise, creating an alliance that seeks to accelerate the growth of e-commerce in Africa and deepen mobile money adoption across the continent. Launched during the sidelines of increasing demand…

A new WHO-AU partnership seeks to strengthen health systems and advance universal health coverage across Africa. The agreement outlines five key focus areas, including disease prevention, maternal health, nutrition, emergency response, and digital innovation. This renewed collaboration aims to shift Africa from aid dependency to health sovereignty through regional leadership and sustainable development. A new effort is underway to bolster public health systems and universal health coverage in Africa following the renewal of a working formula between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the African Union (AU) Commission. The new agreement, signed on the sidelines of the 78th World Health…

Afreximbank posts strong net earnings of $215 million, a 21% increase year-on-year from $178 million in the prior period. Net interest income increased by 4.53% to $411.2 million compared to Q1 2024, attributable to growth in interest earning assets. Fee income from guarantees and letters of credit growth by 47% and 36% respectively during the quarter. The African Export-Import Bank, widely referred as Afreximbank has reported a 21 per cent increase in its net earnings to $215 million for the first three months of 2025. According to an update on May 22, the lender said its performance for the period ended…

Among the hardest hit countries by US tariffs are Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Botswana, Angola, Algeria, and South Africa. Across Africa, at least 22 nations are facing up to a whopping 50 per cent US tariffs for almost all their products. AfDB boss warns 47 out of Africa’s 54 nations stand to suffer direct blows from US tariffs, potentially shrinking export earnings and draining vital forex. As the clang of new US tariffs reverberates across global markets, Africa finds itself bracing for a storm not of its own making. In an era where trade walls are rising instead of falling, African…

Kenya’s tea exports fell sharply by 20 per cent to 157,514 tonnes in the first quarter of 2025 owing to a prolonged dry spell in growing areas. Statistics show that between January and March, Kenya earned $356M from tea exports—down from $446M. Kenya’s tea has always found a steady market in Pakistan, the United Kingdom, Russia, Sudan and Chad. Kenya’s tea sector, long a pillar of the country’s export economy, is feeling the sting of unpredictable weather patterns. According to the latest data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), revenue from Kenya’s tea exports fell sharply by 20…

Live metrics show X (formerly Twitter) has become unreachable on major internet providers in #Tanzania. Blackout came shortly after claim that President Samia Suluhu Hassan had died—posted via a hacked account linked to the Tanzania Police Force (TANPOL). Earlier, President Suluhu warned activists from Kenya telling them not to “meddle” in her country’s affairs. On May 20th, 2025, Tanzania’s digital sphere was abruptly silenced — again — for the second time in under 10 months, authorities in the East African country blocked access to X (formerly Twitter), as the ground heats up ahead of the general elections scheduled in October…