Africa’s CEOs are optimistic about economic recovery and revenue growth in 2025, but remain cautious in their investment and innovation strategies. While they recognise acquisitions, new markets, and AI as key to future competitiveness, many prioritise protecting core operations amid uncertainty, skills shortages, and geopolitical risks. The main challenge ahead is turning resilience and confidence into bold, large-scale transformation, particularly in AI, to ensure long-term competitiveness. Find more on (pp.14-15)

In this month’s issue, Deniz Omer of Multifonds writes that Africa’s asset management industry is entering a new growth phase. As investors move beyond traditional savings, markets are modernising, some upgrading legacy systems, others leapfrogging to agile, cloud-based platforms (p.13).

Meanwhile, our market feature focuses on South Africa that is emerging stronger than expected, with recent milestones, including exiting the FATF greylist, a ratings upgrade, easing debt concerns, stabilising inflation, and strong equity and currency performance. Yet, according to Samantha Pokroy of Sanari Capital, on-the-ground economic indicators, such as PMI and employment, show that real momentum is still building. Read on pp.16-17.

Finally, Nanga Kwinana of Bowmans writes that South Africa’s JSE is seeing a trend of delistings and take-private transactions, driven by companies seeking strategic focus, long-term growth, and value creation amid global pressures and digitisation. Read on p.22.