African markets and business updates

Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Secretary General of the Common Wealth paid a courtesy call to Hon. Adonia Ayebare, Minister of Foreign Affairs in Kampala. The meeting was a buildup of a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of Hon. Ayabare’s inaugural participation at the 81st UNGA as Minister of Foreign Affairs, where they discussed good governance, Uganda’s participation in the forthcoming CHOGM Summit in Antigua and Barbuda from November 1-4, 2026 and Hon. Botchwey’s visit to Uganda from 7th - 9th October, 2026. Hon.…

Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Nomalungelo Gina says the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists is making a significant contribution to the development of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills in South Africa. The Deputy Minister was speaking in Johannesburg recently at the culmination of this year's Eskom Expo International Science Fair. The two-day event, held at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre, brought together 316 selected young scientists from 35 Eskom Expo regions across South Africa and 24 international participants from Brazil, India, Ireland, Russia, Lesotho and Namibia, among others who participated virtually.…

Zimbabwe's foreign currency inflows increased 33.7% year-on-year to $15.9 billion in the first nine months of 2026, generating a cumulative surplus of $4.3 billion. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe raised foreign exchange reserves to nearly $2 billion in September from $1.4 billion in June, strengthening external buffers.

Rwanda has reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF on the first review of its Extended Credit Facility programme after meeting all measurable targets for June 2026. The agreement could unlock about $35.7 million after the IMF Executive Board completes its review in December.

Deputy President Mashatile on Wednesday, 07 October 2026, met with the Steering Committee as they continue the important work of building a National Dialogue that is inclusive, credible and responsive to the aspirations of South Africans. Over the past months, different sectors have been meeting, hosting dialogues and engaging on issues affecting the people of South Africa. Among the notable developments are the following: - The Youth Sector has developed its own coordination framework, resolved internal organisational matters, and commenced preparations for youth-led dialogue processes.…

PETROSEN, Qatar Foundation, Ville de Dakar, Wave Côte d’Ivoire and Woodside Energy Support Refurbishments, Including First BAL4HER Courts on the Continent Refurbishments Support NBA Africa’s Commitment to Build or Renovate 1,000 Courts on the Continent Over the Next Decade The Basketball Africa League (BAL) ( www.BAL.NBA.com ) today announced that the league is unveiling six newly refurbished basketball courts in Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Senegal in support of NBA Africa’s commitment to build or renovate 1,000 courts across the continent over the next decade. Collectively, the courts are expected to reach thousands of youth and community members annually.…

Gold Fields has agreed to acquire BHP’s Kambalda Nickel Concentrator and associated mineral rights in Western Australia, expanding its direct exposure to nickel. The deal would add dedicated nickel-processing infrastructure to a portfolio still dominated by gold, while complementing Gold Fields’ existing copper production and stake ...

Gold Fields agreed to acquire BHP's Kambalda Nickel Concentrator (KNC) project in Australia, subject to regulatory approvals, with completion targeted for 2027. The acquisition would give Gold Fields direct access to nickel-processing infrastructure, strengthening its diversification beyond its traditional gold business. The deal comes despite ...

The AI boom has become a powerful driver of global trade, outweighing tariffs and geopolitical shocks The trade outlook has improved, with growth through 2029 now forecast to outpace the previous decade Sub-Saharan Africa recorded strong trade value growth of 11% in the first five months of 2026 U.S.-China ties declined significantly, but U.S. allies are not following the same path Globalization reached a record level of 25.8% Sub-Saharan Africa recorded strong trade value growth in 2026 despite higher tariffs, geopolitical tensions and disruption to major trade routes.…

South Africa's Capitec has demonstrated that a challenger bank can attract large numbers of customers while achieving high profit levels.