Egypt has witnessed speedy economic recovery since 2013. Last year, its financial market was declared as the fastest growing in the world. As the country continues to attract foreign capital, Anna Lyudvig explores opportunities in the Egyptian stock market, outlining how to find good bets and address risks
While Africa’s large stocks of natural resources, growing private consumption, and surge in trade offer ripe opportunities for long-term investors, the continent is falling behind in sustainable development. Future economic growth in the region requires reliable and cost-efficient sources of power, a significant increase in the efficient use and re-use of water and waste resources, more efficient logistics, and much-enhanced agribusiness infrastructure. AGF catches up with Sulanji Siwale, Managing Director at Global Environment Fund and co-leader of the GEF Africa Growth Fund, to discuss how the asset manager is addressing those challenges.
The news out of the Maghreb region has not been particularly encouraging recently: Tunisia’s economy seemingly suffered a major body blow with the terrorist attack on tourists on June 26, while the decline in oil prices over the past year has had a major impact on Algeria’s public finances. Meanwhile, events in Morocco have been relatively low-key, but the economy appears to be entering a phase of faster economic growth.
XSML Capital is an independent private equity fund manager, with a focus on the Central African region. While building and managing funds for these markets, XSML, eXtra Small Medium Large, provides so much needed finance and management expertise to SMEs in post-conflict countries. The impact investor, which is managing the Central Africa SME Fund, is currently fundraising its second fund: the African Rivers Fund. AGF catches up with Jarl Heijstee, Managing Partner at XSML Capital, to discuss details.
Out of 120 countries, covered by the 2015 Venture Capital & Private Equity Country Attractiveness Index, South Africa and Morocco score highest, coming in at 37th and 50th, whereas Chad, Angola and Burundi are among the least attractive investment destinations in the world.
Nigeria has lost a lot of credibility with the unceremonious removal of ousted central-bank governor Lamido Sanusi, and Nigeria has continued to lose further credibility with a host of poor decisions made by the bank since he left, argues Akin Sawyerr, Founder & CSO of Market Atlas.
The African Agriculture Fund (AAF) is a unique investment vehicle, which provides equity funding to private companies in the African agricultural and food-specific sectors. It strives to make a positive impact on African agriculture and food production. Through its funding, portfolio companies are able to implement strategies that enhance and diversify food production and distribution in Africa, in response to the continent’s food security challenges.
Industry veteran Dr. Mark Mobius, Executive Chairman, Templeton Emerging Markets Group, Franklin Templeton Investments, has been investing in global emerging markets for more than 40 years. He joined Templeton in 1987 and currently directs the Templeton research team, which is based in 18 global emerging markets offices, and manages emerging markets portfolios including Africa. AGF sits down with Dr. Mobius to discuss his career, the Templeton Africa Fund and opportunities that he sees in the “Last Frontier”.
The potential for exceptional returns via the private equity route remains very high, but also poses some significant challenges, says Pieter de Wet, Head of Research at Novare Equity Partners
The Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries (Norfund) is the government’s main instrument for combatting poverty through private sector development. Established by the Norwegian Parliament in 1997, Norfund provides risk capital to companies where businesses lack access to sufficient capital to develop and grow. At the end of 2014, the Fund had NOK9bn ($1.12bn) invested in Africa (72% of total investments). Africa Global Funds’ Anna Lyudvig sits down with Mark Davis, Head of Clean Energy Department at Norfund, to discuss why the renewable energy is of particular focus for Norfund.
Despite high demand for cement in Kenya, profit margins in the sector remain under pressure, as competition ramps up.
West Africa has unprecedented opportunities for agricultural growth, but making the most of them will require more effective regional integration, says a new report by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Kyle Smith, analyst at African Alliance Asset Management, explores the investment opportunity of South African listed companies as they become an increasingly viable proxy for African economic exposure.
Hendrik du Toit, Chief Executive Officer at Investec Asset Management, shares his thoughts on Africa, his asset management company and what excites him about African businesses
