Invest Africa Insights

About Invest Africa Insights

Invest Africa is a leading pan-African business platform that promotes trade and investment in Africa. In this podcast series we will explore Africa's key economic trends and the issues facing businesses and investors across the continent.

Publisher

Invest Africa

Category

news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 Sept 2017

Latest episode

1 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

95 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   1 Oct 2026

   The Role of SEZ's in Building Competitive Industries in Africa

   Africa’s manufacturing sector was entering a pivotal phase of growth, with Special Economic Zones (SEZs) emerging as key enablers of industrialisation and global competitiveness. As governments across the continent prioritised industrial policy, SEZs were playing a central role in attracting investment, clustering industries, and creating efficient, investment-ready ecosystems. Driven by rapid urbanisation, a growing consumer base, and increasing economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Africa presented a compelling opportunity for manufacturers seeking to diversify supply chains and access new markets. SEZs offered a structured environment where infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and incentives were aligned to reduce operational barriers and accelerate industrial growth. Across sectors such as agro-processing, automotive assembly, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and green industrial materials, SEZs were demonstrating how localised production could capture greater value, create skilled employment, and support export-led growth. However, unlocking their full potential required strong coordination between governments, zone developers, investors, and industrial operators, alongside reliable energy, efficient transport corridors, access to finance and a skilled workforce. Hosted by Invest Africa in partnership with DLA Piper (https://www.dlapiper.com/en-gb?utm_source=chatgpt.com), the webinar brought together Titus Edjua, Partner at DLA Piper, Tejaswi Avasarala, Director - Commercialisation at Lagos Free Zone, Osam Iyahen, Senior Director and Head of Infrastructure (Transport & Logistics) at Africa Finance Corporation, Amandine Ogouebandja épouse Deniel, Associate Vice President at Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms (Arise IIP), and Geoffrey White, CEO, Africa at Agility Global. The discussion explored how SEZs were shaping Africa’s manufacturing landscape, highlighting successful zone-led industrial models, investment opportunities, and the policy and partnership frameworks needed to drive long-term industrial growth.

2. 

   8 May 2026

   Water & Industrialization: Africa's Hidden Growth Driver

   Africa’s industrial growth story is accelerating — but water may be its most overlooked constraint.From mining and manufacturing to agro-processing and urban expansion, water availability, reliability, and governance increasingly determine which projects scale and which stall. Yet water is still too often treated as a utility issue rather than core economic infrastructure.Hosted in partnership with Mitrelli, this session convened industry, investors, and policymakers to examine how water systems can enable — rather than limit — Africa’s industrial future.Speakers:Jennifer Zabasajja, Chief Africa Correspondent & Anchor at Bloomberg Television (moderator)Mtchera Chirwa, Director, Water Development & Sanitation Department, African Development BankRodrigo Manso, CEO, MitrelliRamesh Moochikal, CEO, Africa Improved Foods

3. 

   13 Feb 2026

   Mining Series 2026 Panel Discussion: Powering Critical Minerals in Southern Africa - Making Renewable Energy Bankable for Critical Minerals Projects

   Southern Africa has a significant clean energy opportunity, underpinned by world-class renewable resources and growing demand from energy-intensive sectors such as mining and minerals processing.Renewable energy is now essential to unlocking critical minerals; however, many projects continue to stall due to coordination challenges between mining and power developments, infrastructure constraints, market and regulatory friction, and financing approaches that work for individual transactions but are difficult to replicate at scale.This session, as part of Invest Africa's Mining Series 2026 and hosted in partnership with Growth Gateway, brough together senior leaders from government, mining, energy development and finance to focus on what actually unlocks delivery. Panellists discussed where projects break down in practice, what has helped projects move forward, and how different actors can work together to support repeatable, investable outcomes. Speakers:- Hon. Dean Macpherson, Minister of Public Works & Infrastructure, Republic of South Africa - H.E. Antony Phillipson CMG, High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland- Dalu Ajene, CEO & Head of Coverage, Africa, Standard Chartered- Lucas Chaumontet, Managing Director & Senior Partner, BCG- Jed Goldstein, Infrastructure Lead, First Quantum Minerals- Isabel Fick, Group Head of Trading and Operations, Africa GreenCo- Lisa Pinsley, Fund Head: African Transition Acceleration Fund | African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM)- Kesh Mudaly, Managing Director & Partner, BCG (moderator)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

78,939

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 55 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

43

Social presence

0

YouTube

85

Engagement

81

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.