Africa in Review by the Numbers (March 2021)
$7 billionThe annual value of Africa's space industry according to the website "Space in Africa". This value is reportedly likely to grow over 40% in the next five years. This is after Tunisia launched its first locally manufactured satellite, making it the sixth on the continent and the first in the Maghreb to do so. (Africanews)
13%Decline in office space rent in Nairobi, according to a recent report by Knight Frank. This decrease, caused by COVID-19 pandemic disruptions, effectively makes Nairobi the cheapest place to rent office space amongst top African cities. (Business Daily Africa)
465,000Number of trees that Magnum, a leading chocolate ice cream maker, has committed to planting in Ivory Cost. The Unilever-owned brand plans to plant the trees in the Cavally Forest region as it marks International Day of Forests. (Food Business Africa)
$1 billion
Investment by the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund to replace expensive power loans using proceeds from 2020 Eurobond sale. Several independent power producers have agreed to change their feedstock from heavy fuel to gas as part of the deal, which is expected to save the government $5 billion of the lifetime of the power purchase arrangements. (Ghana Broadcasting Corporation)
33%
Expected rise in Tanzania's sugar production following the approval of six new sugarcane varieties, the first to be produced domestically. Local demand for sugar has been rising on the back of an increase in the number of new industries that use the sweetener as raw material. (The Citizen)
200 MWSolar power plant to be constructed in Egypt with financing from the AfDB, among others. Owned by ACWA Power, the project is expected to lower electricity costs for businesses and residences, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating construction and other jobs. The plant is being built at an estimated cost of $156.4 million. (ESI Africa)
$200 million
Value of mobile money business stake sold by Airtel to TPG's global impact investing platform, The Rise Find. The investment will see the mobile money business — Airtel Mobile Commerce BV (AMC BV) — valued at $2.65 billion. (Nairametrics)
137 million
The number of Paypal accounts African businesses can connect with after a partnership with Flutterwave. The deal will help overcome the challenges presented by the highly fragmented and complex payment and banking infrastructure on the continent. (Tech Crunch)
1.7%
Africa's continental coverage of 23.6 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine distributed in the continent. The AstraZeneca vaccine, allocated principally via the COVAX facility, accounts for 20.5 million (87%) doses and is the main vaccine used in Africa. (Africa CDC)