Seeds of Opportunity: The African Growth Series
December 2024 | Issue 1
In this week's issue, you will learn more about:
- AFRICA MEGA TREND: The Beneficiation Opportunity
- AFRICA OPPORTUNITY: U.S. Reshoring Could Boost Africa's Mining Exports
- AFRICA OPPORTUNITY: The Growth of Social Media Advertising Spending
- UPCOMING EVENT: Africa’s Green Economy Summit 2025 | Cape Town, South Africa
- AFRICA TREND: Urbanisation in Africa
- UPCOMING EVENT: Africa Energy Indaba 2025 | CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa
- UPCOMING EVENT: Transport Evolution Africa Forum & Expo 2025 | JHB, South Africa
AFRICA MEGA TREND: The Beneficiation Opportunity
Africa’s raw material exports represent untapped potential for economic transformation. Beneficiation can create millions of jobs, reduce reliance on imported goods, and drive sustainable growth. Transitioning to value-added production in sectors like mining, agriculture, and biofuels positions Africa for global competitiveness as demand for refined products skyrockets.
AFRICA OPPORTUNITY: U.S. Reshoring Could Boost Africa's Mining Exports
A potential shift in U.S. trade policies under a second Trump administration could open significant opportunities for African economies, particularly in the mining sector. With a renewed focus on reshoring critical minerals and decoupling from Chinese supply chains, Africa’s resource-rich nations are well-positioned to benefit.
Global demand for cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements—key components in EV batteries and renewable energy systems—is set to soar, with the critical minerals market projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.64% through 2030. Africa, which already accounts for 75% of the world's cobalt production, stands to solidify its role as a vital supplier in this shifting trade landscape.
Strategic partnerships with stable African nations could align U.S. supply chain priorities with African development goals, fostering sustainable growth and infrastructure investment. For companies navigating these opportunities, aligning with U.S. reshoring initiatives could yield long-term benefits.
AFRICA OPPORTUNITY: The Growth of Social Media Advertising Spending
Internet connectivity is rapidly expanding across Africa, enabling over 384 million Africans to become active social media users. Social media advertising expenditure has consistently grown over the past decade and is projected to grow at an impressive CAGR of 11.11%, increasing from USD 1.1bn in 2023 to USD 2.23bn in 2030. Platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp are already widely used as business marketplaces. Meanwhile, Instagram and TikTok are rapidly gaining traction among younger audiences. These platforms inform advertisers not only about user demographics but also about the content users enjoy. As such, companies are actively leveraging these trends by using targeted advertising to reach potential customers, proving highly profitable.
AFRICA TREND: Urbanisation in Africa
Over the last twenty years, people have gravitated towards urban areas for employment opportunities, social upliftment, and new prospects. This influx has necessitated the growth of cities and urban areas, resulting in strained public services, urban sprawl, and the establishment of informal settlements. It is vital to understand that the movement of people will continue, which means that proactive and future-resilient planning and action must be taken now to sustain this growth.
Core characteristics of African economies, such as significant informal economies, reliance on extractive commodities, and institutional shortfalls, limit how much a city can evolve to cater to an increasing population. One answer to this complex conundrum is industrialisation, particularly urban construction centred on industrial practices, to shift both the economy and the city’s inhabitants towards higher-value commercial activity.
Should urbanisation be linked to industrialisation, a world of new opportunities will open up that will impact global sustainability, Africa’s role in the global market, and the renewed quality of life for those who call Africa home? This bright future will be unlocked through multi-level government programs, economic diversification, and climate-resilient development.
The key takeaway is that these cities will expand to accommodate the people who flock to places such as Lagos or Johannesburg; the question is: will you play a part in planning and executing an intentional growth path for the African continent?
UPCOMING EVENT: Africa’s Green Economy Summit 2025 | Cape Town, South Africa
There is still time to register and secure your seat at next year's Africa's Green Economy Summit (AGES), which will take place from 19 to 21 February at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town, South Africa.
👉 Register now and use his discount code AG3SADB20 for 20% off the final price: https://lnkd.in/eGjd5TkS
👉 To visit the Summit website: https://lnkd.in/en8mbP2H
👉 To download the programme brochure: https://lnkd.in/dBYDXshA
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UPCOMING EVENT: Africa Energy Indaba 2025 | Cape Town, South Africa
Join the energy revolution at Africa Energy Indaba 2025, which will be held from March 4 to 6 in Cape Town, South Africa. The Indaba will bring together influential stakeholders, policymakers, industry experts, and investors to address Africa’s energy challenges and identify sustainable solutions to ensure reliable, accessible, and affordable energy across the continent.
Learn more on how you can take part in the event - https://lnkd.in/deRuba77
UPCOMING EVENT: Transport Evolution Africa Forum & Expo 2025 | JHB, South Africa
Join us in Johannesburg for the 12th annual Transport Evolution Africa Forum & Expo from 17-19 June 2025 to be part of Africa’s journey towards an integrated, sustainable transport infrastructure. This event will drive economic growth and support the realisation of Agenda 2063 and the vision of #TheAfricaWeWant.
Africa’s transport and logistics sectors are critical to economic growth and regional integration, yet significant challenges hinder their full potential. The Transport Evolution Africa Forum & Expo, under the theme “Supercharging Regional Connectivity: Driving Intermodal Transport and Logistics Growth in Africa,” will bring together industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to address these challenges, explore solutions, and develop strategies to strengthen connectivity and advance intermodal transport systems across the continent.
Click on the link to learn more about Transport Evolution Africa's upcoming event - https://lnkd.in/d9FDHSEa
You can download the brochure here - https://lnkd.in/dr3DrPi8
To find out more about opportunities in Africa, please get in touch with Lynne Martin.
