Background

Inadequate infrastructure remains a major obstacle towards Africa achieving its full economic growth potential.

With Africa seen as one of the world’s fastest growing economic hubs, meeting the demand for key infrastructure has been identied as a priority.

This translates into exciting opportunities for global investors who need to look past the traditional Western view of Africa as a homogeneous block, and undertake the detailed research required to understand the nuances and unique opportunities of each region and each individual country.

--------- Deloitte.

​

​

​

​

The lack of infrastructure is a serious obstacle to growth and development, and results in a low level of intra-African trade and trade with other regions. The continent accounts for 12% of the world population but generates a mere 1% of global GDP and only 2% of world trade. Despite this, the world’s most rapidly expanding economies are now located in sub-Saharan Africa. This gives even more reason for speedy infrastructure transformation.

​

A recent World Bank study on infrastructure also highlighted challenges in this regard for continental economic development. It found that the poor state of infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa, that is electricity, water, roads and information and communications technology (ICT), reduced national economic growth by two percentage points every year and cut business productivity by as much as 40%.