Next Africa: What Nigeria's Motsepe & JPMorgan's Pinto See in Continent's Fastest-Growing Markets

Group 1 - The Bloomberg Africa Business Summit highlighted Africa's potential as a growing investment destination, driven by its vast resources, youthful population, and expanding trade networks [2][3][4] - In 2025, China signed over $30 billion in construction contracts in Africa, a fivefold increase from the previous year, indicating rising global interest in African markets [3] - Africa's population is projected to exceed 3.2 billion by 2070, contributing to economic growth, but high unemployment remains a significant challenge, particularly in South Africa [4][5] Group 2 - The African Continental Free Trade Area, expected to be fully operational by 2035, aims to create the largest free trade bloc globally, unlocking access to a $3.4 trillion market [6] - The continent faces an infrastructure financing gap of up to $68 billion annually, alongside challenges such as policy uncertainty and high youth unemployment [7] - Bloomberg Economics developed a risk-o-meter to assess countries based on economic strength and governance, identifying South Africa, Botswana, and Mauritius as low-risk investment destinations [8][9] Group 3 - The informal economy in Africa presents significant opportunities for growth, with potential for technology to enhance commerce and access to services [39][41] - The agricultural sector is projected to reach a trillion-dollar market by 2030, with innovations in technology expected to improve crop yields and food security [16][33] - Africa holds about 30% of the world's known mineral resources, including critical minerals essential for the global shift towards clean energy, yet only attracts 10% of global exploration spending [50][52]