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Africa’s economic story is being rewritten. With a growing population, vast natural resources, and rising regional integration, the continent is becoming one of the world’s most compelling investment destinations. In this final episode of RMB Africa Focus Season 4, Crystal Orderson explores Africa’s competitive edge in the global economy – from the power of remittances and intra-African trade to the innovative policies helping build a more resilient, self-reliant future.
RMB Africa Focus S4: E7 | Africa’s Competitive Edge
Bongani Bingwa - Africa Focus S4: E7 | Africa’s Competitive Edge
John Perlman - Africa Focus S4: E7 | Africa’s Competitive Edge
John Maytham - Africa Focus S4: E7 | Africa’s Competitive Edge
Lester Kiewit - Africa Focus S4: E7 | Africa’s Competitive Edge
What was discussed
Crystal explores the drivers of Africa’s evolving economic power, the shift from aid to investment, and the mechanisms positioning the continent for long-term competitiveness.
From potential to performance
Africa is no longer just a continent of potential, it’s a continent of momentum. With 1.3 billion people and a collective GDP exceeding $3 trillion, the continent’s youth, minerals, and market size are becoming undeniable assets. But to translate this into prosperity, African nations must invest in local production, innovation, and policy reform.
AfCFTA: One market, one future
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a gamechanger – designed to harmonise markets, boost intra-African trade, and enable value-added production. Regional blocs are becoming more united, and countries like Ghana and Ivory Coast are already demonstrating the power of agro-processing to reduce food imports and generate jobs.
Remittances: An overlooked economic engine
Africans living abroad sent over $100 billion back home in 2024; far exceeding traditional donor aid. These remittances play a pivotal role in household stability and grassroots entrepreneurship. As Crystal notes, they reflect a sense of “Ubuntu” and are helping shape a bottom-up model of development that is deeply rooted in community.
The shift from aid to investment
Foreign direct investment in Africa hit $52 billion in 2023, overtaking traditional donor aid. This marks a powerful shift in global confidence and presents an opportunity for African nations to design growth on their own terms. Local beneficiation – like Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery and Ivory Coast’s cashew processing sector – is proving that economic transformation is possible with the right infrastructure and intent.
Financial stability as a foundation
Africa has launched its own Financial Stability Mechanism, an essential buffer to manage liquidity crises and reduce debt burdens. The facility includes a credit rating agency to help nations access capital markets more affordably, and preliminary estimates suggest it could save African governments $20 billion in debt-servicing costs.
The continent’s time is now
As Crystal reflects, the world is turning to Africa once more – but this time, on new terms. With increasing integration, innovation, and ownership of its financial future, Africa is charting a path that’s not just resilient, but transformational.