African markets and business updates

Twenty-seven South African food manufacturing companies will be seeking new export opportunities and commercial partnerships in France when they participate in the SIAL Paris International Food Products Exhibition from 17-21 October 2026. The companies will participate with the support of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), which will host a South African National Pavilion at the exhibition.…

As the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Access Project (ECOWAS-REAP) approaches closure, members of the project led by the ECOWAS Directorate of Energy and Mines, has commenced a Lessons and Result Note (LeaRN) Mission organized by the World Bank in The Gambia to document key experiences, share lessons learned, and identify opportunities to strengthen implementation strategies for ongoing and future projects under the regional programme.…

On October 16, from 2:10 pm for approximately 30 minutes, Mr. OZORA Koki, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, received a courtesy call from Mr. Toufik MILAT, Ambassador of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria to Japan. At the outset, Parliamentary Vice-Minister OZORA, referring to the active high-level exchanges last year and other positive developments, expressed his wish to further develop bilateral relations, taking advantage of upcoming opportunities such as the Japan-Algeria Intergovernmental Joint Economic Committee planned for next year.…

The World Bank Group plans to increase its critical minerals financing fivefold to $19 billion between 2026 and 2030. Twenty countries have been identified as potential partners, although the Bank has not specified which African countries are included. Africa holds an estimated 30% of ...

Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation ( ), President of the “More Than a Mother” Campaign , has published a new thought-provoking leadership article titled “The Kelej Leadership Pyramid: Why Good Leaders Fail and How They Can Sustain Success”, under her newly launched virtual Mentorship and Leadership Platform, "Beyond Power; Leadership, Global Influence and Impact". In this insightful article, Dr. Kelej introduces the concept of the Kelej Leadership Pyramid , a practical framework that explores the key elements required for sustainable leadership success and examines why even highly capable leaders can lose effectiveness over time.…

Atiku Abubakar wants to supply local refineries with crude oil below market prices to make gasoline cheaper. Tinubu's government is pursuing pump-price discounts, reduced retail margins and a proposed supply-cost cap. The debate comes as Nigeria relies increasingly on domestic refining, with Dangote ...

The East African Community (EAC) Partner States have advanced regional efforts to strengthen e-commerce and digital trade, with a focus on improving data and monitoring, building consumer trust, enhancing preparedness for implementation of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade, and accelerating implementation of the EAC E-Commerce Strategy. The measures were discussed during the EAC Regional E-Commerce Engagement Platform meeting held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from 13th to 15th October, 2026.…

Cotonou's cargo traffic rebounded in 2025 after a sharp decline in 2024 linked to the diplomatic crisis with Niger. The port is investing nearly $855 million in infrastructure as Abidjan, Lomé, Tema and Nigerian ports expand their capacity. Analysts say Cotonou needs a clearer regional strategy as competing ports attract ...

Manufacturing's share of GDP fell from 13.9% in 2017 to 9.8% in 2025, according to the UN. The DRC averaged 7.2% economic growth between 2021 and 2025, largely supported by mining. The UN Economic Commission for Africa ...

DRC Gold Trading wants tax relief for gold traders and mining cooperatives to encourage legal sales. The company estimates that 75 tons of gold worth nearly $10 billion leave the DRC illegally each year. It aims to market 15 to 18 tons of gold ...