AGP Executive Report

Trade & FX Reality Check (Eswatini): Eswatini’s August trade showed E3.86bn exports vs E3.67bn imports, a small merchandise surplus, but April–August still ran a deficit of about E878m—an important reminder for SMBs that cross-border costs and demand move both ways. Regulation Costs (Zimbabwe): Zimbabwe’s competitiveness push is shifting from “more licences” to asking what regulation itself costs firms; the government is institutionalising regulatory impact assessments to cut the hidden burden on investment and scaling. Entrepreneurship Push (South Africa): GEC+Africa 2026 in Cape Town brought MSMEs, investors and policymakers together under “Connecting Africa,” with calls for action on finance and red tape. SME Energy Relief (Nigeria): Ondo’s Lucky Light Initiative will supply solar power to 1,000 small businesses, aiming to cut one of the biggest production costs and boost profitability. Credit Costs (Kenya): President Ruto urged banks to turn improved stability into cheaper credit for households and businesses, warning high lending rates still choke investment. Digital Growth (Kenya): Kenya’s .KE domains hit 129,140 by end-June, showing steady digital identity expansion alongside a much larger mobile and internet base. Trade Data Tools (Eswatini): EIPA launched two ITC-backed dashboards to help investors and exporters access market intelligence and investment opportunities. Insurance for Resilience (Nigeria): AXA Mansard’s campaign argues insurance should be seen as practical protection for livelihoods and business continuity, not just another expense. AI & Jobs (Ghana): A focus on AI’s impact on youth employment urges readiness to work with the technology rather than treating it as a distant threat.

Climate & Resilience: Nairobi is stepping up stormwater upgrades as El Niño fears rise, with crews clearing blocked drainage lines and installing new pipes to cut flood risk. Energy for SMEs: Ondo State’s “Lucky Light” solar plan targets 1,000 small businesses across 18 LGAs, aiming to lower power costs and boost productivity. Banking & Credit Costs: Kenya’s Ruto urged banks to translate financial stability into cheaper credit, pushing lending rates down and expanding SME financing. Digital Identity Growth: Kenya’s .KE domains hit 129,140 by June 2026, showing momentum in local digital presence as connectivity expands. Payments for Informal Merchants: Ghana’s Access Bank and Visa launched “Visa Accept” to let nano and small traders take card payments via smartphones, helping them build records for credit. Insurance Adoption: Nigeria’s insurance stakeholders called for wider uptake as a risk-protection tool for households and businesses. Trade & Startup Policy: Nigeria’s Startup Act and Business Facilitation Act are under review for how they affect startups and ease of doing business. Tourism Investment: KZN Premier pushed for more direct international flights to unlock tourism, citing Club Med’s R2bn resort as a catalyst for jobs and arrivals. Agrifood B2B: Italy launched an agrifood technology project in Zimbabwe, exploring pilots in tomato production and processing. Remittances Watch: Ethiopia’s remittances jumped to $7.14bn in 2025, underscoring how diaspora cash is becoming a key FX support for families.

Digital Payments for Micro-merchants: Access Bank Ghana and Visa launched “Visa Accept,” a virtual POS inside the Access Bank mobile app to help nano and small traders take card payments and generate transaction records for easier credit access. SME Finance at Scale: FSD Africa rolled out its Manager Finance Facility in Lagos and Nairobi to back locally rooted alternative finance providers with flexible “piloting” and “scaling” capital. Electricity Subsidy Pressure on Business: Nigeria’s Atiku Abubakar warned that phasing out electricity subsidies in 2027 could worsen hardship for small businesses already struggling with power costs, arguing palliatives can’t fix the underlying pain. Electricity Access Reality Check: A Nigeria power-sector critique says official progress claims don’t match the scale of unserved communities—highlighting the gap between policy and reliable supply. Policy for Small Business Growth: A South African analysis pushes back on claims about new procurement rules, saying the proposed R20m set-aside for black-owned firms is being overstated, while still flagging the need for scrutiny. Remittances as a Lifeline: Ethiopia’s remittances hit about $7.14bn in 2025, underscoring how household transfers are becoming a major FX support—relevant for small enterprise demand. Startup & Fintech Rules: Nigeria’s Startup Act and Business Facilitation Act are reviewed for how they aim to reduce red tape and support tech-enabled startups, while Remita backs Nigeria Fintech Week with a focus on resilience and secure payments. Local Industry Capability: South Africa’s 20-year Aerospace Industry Support Initiative (AISI) was highlighted as proof that industrial policy can build globally competitive capability from emerging enterprises.

Digital Payments for SMEs: Access Bank Ghana and Visa launched Visa Accept, a virtual POS inside the Access Bank mobile app so nano and small merchants can take card payments on their phones—creating transaction records that can help formal credit access. Energy Access Reality Check: A Nigeria-focused report says 22 LGAs’ headquarters and 20,000+ communities still lack electricity, with 85m Nigerians facing unreliable grid power—calling out claims that don’t measure real service delivery. Electricity Subsidy Pushback: Atiku Abubakar warns Nigeria’s planned electricity subsidy phase-out from 2027 could deepen hardship for households and businesses, arguing palliatives can’t fix the cost drivers. SME Finance for Exports: Afreximbank extended $10m to Azania Bank to on-lend to Tanzanian export SMEs, targeting working capital and expansion for agriculture, manufacturing, trade, logistics and value-added exports. SME Scaling Gap in South Africa: The State of SMME 2026 report says firms are surviving but struggle to scale; access to customers is the top growth blocker, with markets and digital tools also key. Togo SME Research Priorities: Togo’s chamber mapped seven sectors where businesses want research, flagging shared needs like financing, IP, standards, market access and stronger links between researchers and firms. Energy Storage & Microgrids: Sunwoda and Acelerex plan integrated battery management plus smart microgrid controls to cut diesel dependence and expand reliable power for clinics, homes and businesses. Counterfeit Crackdown in Zimbabwe: Bulawayo pushes tougher anti-counterfeit enforcement and incentives to revive industry, citing counterfeit and smuggling as a major drag on local manufacturers. Local Business Climate Funding: A policy piece argues Africa should lean more on domestic capital pools—pensions, insurance and sovereign wealth—to reduce reliance on shrinking aid.

Banking & SME Credit: Kenya’s President William Ruto urged banks to cut the cost of credit and widen access, saying high lending rates still choke investment and entrepreneurship despite improved stability. Tax Reform Push: Nigeria set up a technical sub-committee to review the 2025 Tax Acts, aiming to fix ambiguities, reduce compliance burdens, and feed recommendations into the 2027 Finance Bill. SME Trade & Logistics: ITC and DHL renewed their partnership to help SMEs—especially women-led firms—overcome cross-border barriers using market intelligence, trade support and logistics. Credit Access for SMEs: Togo plans an SME financing portal linking small businesses to banks and microfinance institutions, guiding loan applications and broadening the client pool. Energy Shock to Small Firms: Libya’s power cuts and fuel shortages are hitting restaurants and other businesses hard, with generator costs and black-market diesel driving steep losses. Tourism Jobs Under Pressure: South Africa’s Mpumalanga tourism economy is taking a hit as water and sewage failures threaten visitor confidence and local livelihoods. Regional Market Opportunity: A COMESA-focused angle argues Bulawayo firms should treat the regional bloc as an extension of their domestic market to scale production and jobs. Digital Business Growth: South Africa’s ProfileMe highlights how affordable digital profiles and microsites are helping professionals and small firms win trust and customers.

Mining & Powering Operations: Allied Gold says Kurmuk Mine in Ethiopia has completed grid connection and fed first ore into the crushing circuit as commissioning moves toward first gold. Transport & Skills Investment: Morocco and the AfDB signed €405m—€205m for high-speed rail on Kenitra–Marrakech and €200m for Cap Compétences 2030 vocational training and apprenticeships. SME Digital Waste Tech: Egypt’s Bekia raised $765,000 to digitize waste collection and recycling, improve its consumer app, and launch a business subscription product that issues carbon-avoidance certificates. Energy Access & SME Reality Check: Nigeria’s power debate heats up as Atiku’s camp and the power ministry trade claims over whether supply is improving—an issue that directly affects small businesses relying on reliable electricity. Township & Informal Trade Support: South Africa’s GEC+Africa 2026 push shifts toward outcomes-based support for MSMEs, while a Gauteng spaza and informal traders summit calls for deeper economic transformation beyond permits and paperwork. Cross-Border Trade for SMEs: ITC and DHL renewed a partnership to help SMEs export and build supply chains, with extra focus on women-led businesses. Export Finance for Tanzanian SMEs: Afreximbank backed Azania Bank with a $10m facility for export-oriented SME working capital and expansion. AI for Work & Training: Dayforce was named a Gartner Leader in workforce management tech, signaling more AI-driven scheduling and compliance tools for employers. Business Growth Signals: South Africa’s State of the SMME report finds many firms survive but struggle to scale, with market access flagged as a top growth constraint.

Energy Cost Shock: Nigeria’s cooking gas jumps 25% to about N1,500/kg while diesel (AGO) rises above N2,000/litre in major depots, squeezing manufacturers, transporters and generator-dependent small businesses. SME Finance Push: Equity Bank in Kenya is shifting lending toward value addition so local SMEs can plug into global supply chains, with credit timed to crop cycles. Trade Finance Boost: EBRD launches a $100m dollar lending programme for Kenyan traders and manufacturers via Co-op Bank, using a cross-currency swap to ease the trade finance gap. Digital Compliance: Ghana’s central bank urges digital asset firms to build compliance from day one after the Virtual Assets Providers Bill. Skills for Jobs: Ghana TVET Service and DTI sign an MoU to strengthen industry-led TVET, apprenticeships and workplace learning. Shea Value Addition: Ghana’s World Shea Expo 2026 in Tamale spotlights women and youth-led processing, branding and market access. South Africa SMME Reality Check: A new report says SMMEs survive but struggle to scale, with funding access and cash-flow alignment still major blockers. Liberia Revenue & Inclusion: Liberia’s domestic revenue crosses $1bn for the first time, while a World Bank-backed programme makes first cash payments to West Point fishmongers. Solar for Reliability: Sun King expands Nigeria’s solar inverter range up to 30kW and launches a solar-powered freezer for homes and businesses.

SME Cash & Capital: Moneda Investment raised N6bn via commercial paper, oversubscribed at 120%, to expand financing across Africa’s natural-resource value chains and support local-content SMEs. Energy Access for Businesses: All On and PowerGen will back new Nigeria mini-grids through mezzanine funding, targeting 9MW, 6,000 connections and about 41,000 beneficiaries. Farmers Get Loan Windows: Tanzania’s EADB and TADB signed a 50bn/- deal to expand affordable credit for smallholders and micro agri-food enterprises, with a special focus on rural farmers and women. Local Supply Chains & Cashflow: South African SMMEs face growth blockers from slow customer payment cycles, high logistics costs and ESG compliance burdens—speakers urged corporates to change procurement practices. SME Scaling via Mentorship/Capital: 22 On Sloane aims to raise R1bn for startups and MSMEs through Sloane Capital, after acquiring key licences. Trade & Logistics Fixes: Eastern Africa horticulture stakeholders meet in Nairobi to tackle border delays, transport costs and cold-chain gaps, alongside launching a regional horticulture council. Digital Commerce Shift: Kenya’s live commerce is already here—now the question is how fast it can scale for traders and buyers. Entrepreneur Spotlight: South Africa’s Naturals Beauty grew from a mother’s kitchen solution for her autistic son and won Nedbank Business Ignite 2026. Skills for Medical Oxygen: RIX Industries and Build Health International will train biomedical technicians in Rwanda to keep high-pressure oxygen compressors running. Competition Policy: Gambia hosted an ECOWAS competition conference to strengthen fair markets and protect local businesses.

Capital Markets Push: Kenya is using Africa Capital Week to argue for deeper local capital markets to fund infrastructure and businesses as debt bites harder, with officials pointing to high debt-servicing costs and the need for pension/insurer/bank money to back long-term projects. SME Awards & Finance Access: Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe launched the Standard Bank Africa Business Awards to spotlight SMEs across sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, retail and women/youth-led firms, including non-bank customers. Digital Inclusion Investments: South Africa’s DNI committed R2.1bn to expand digital and fintech access via Mission Mobile and KnowRoaming, aiming to widen smartphone affordability and global mobility. Local Supply Chain in Energy: QNB Group hosted an SME-focused forum in Qatar on building a resilient energy ecosystem, stressing local suppliers and practical financing solutions. Trade & Cross-Border Skills: WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala urged Nigeria’s Niger Delta to set up Special Economic Zones, improve ports, execution and digital infrastructure, and cut trade costs to attract investment. SME Growth Through Partnerships: Malawi’s finance ministry backed an EIB-Centenary Bank deal (about €7.5m) to fund small agricultural enterprises, with emphasis on women and youth. Local Business Pressure in Lagos: Lagos traders protested alleged Chinese retail expansion, fearing displacement of Nigerian traders, before talks paused the action. Fuel Cost Strain in Nigeria: Opposition groups warned that petrol price hikes are pushing households and small businesses toward breaking point.

Digital Inclusion Push: South Africa’s DBSA says it helped deploy 47,545km of fibre across the region, alongside a 47% jump in net profit to R7.8bn—fuel for connectivity and SME-linked growth. Connectivity Investment: Africell secured a $99.6m EXIM direct loan to upgrade mobile network technology in Angola, aiming to expand access for commerce, fintech and education. SME Finance & Credit: Jordan Kuwait Bank partnered with CRIF to roll out an SME credit assessment model (StrategyOne), targeting faster, smarter lending decisions. Skills for Jobs: Ghana’s TVET Service and DTI signed an MoU to strengthen industry-led training, apprenticeships and transition-to-work support for youth. Women in Business: BRICS Women’s Business Alliance chair Lebogang Zulu argues for moving women entrepreneurs from participation to economic equity and leadership. Trade & Borders: AfCFTA’s promise hinges on safe, efficient corridors—trade facilitation and transport/digital/energy investment remain the bottleneck. Local Business Pressure: Abuja residents report a levy-heavy tax burden that can swallow a large share of quarterly profit before staff and stock costs. Market Spotlight: Sanlam Allianz Kenya posted 21% profit growth in 2025, citing integration and tech investments to strengthen SME ambitions.

Dangote Refinery IPO Frenzy (Nigeria): Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals opened its N2.15tn IPO on NGX, with 4.1bn shares at N525 drawing heavy demand in the first hours and talk of strong returns and a possible $350bn market cap by 2030. SME Credit Boost (Africa): Jordan Kuwait Bank partnered with CRIF to use StrategyOne for faster, smarter SME credit decisions, cutting manual bottlenecks and improving customer experience. Manufacturing Momentum (Nigeria): NESG reports Nigeria’s manufacturing led a broad business uptick in August, supported by FX stability and demand, while firms still cite power, financing and logistics constraints. Energy Finance for Women (South Africa): We’RE Connected launched an initiative to connect women-owned energy businesses to curated capital partners across the energy value chain. Trade for Women (COMESA): COMESA put women at the center of its trade push, highlighting barriers in finance, markets and decision-making for cross-border small enterprises. Policy & Skills (South Africa): A revised national AI policy is urged to prioritize sovereignty, data security and infrastructure control after a draft was withdrawn over fictitious citations. Solar Policy Debate (Africa): Opinion argues falling solar panel costs are shifting power demand away from grids, forcing regulators to rethink how to fund core infrastructure while scaling small-scale solar. Regional Logistics (EAC): Analysis says EAC trade growth is strong, but border delays and inconsistent implementation still hurt traders—digital reforms are helping, yet unevenly. Access to Working Capital (South Africa): Road freight SMEs will meet in October to tackle working capital constraints and cash-flow scaling.

SME Health Cover: Equity’s SME Health Cover is tackling a real cash-flow risk for small businesses by helping manage medical costs that can derail operations. Tax & Revenue: Uganda’s shift from TIN to NIN aims to widen the tax base, but the big question is whether better identification will translate into more revenue. Big Capital Markets Moment: Dangote Petroleum’s IPO pitch promises strong returns and “generational wealth,” positioning the offer as Africa’s biggest IPO. Working Capital for Transport SMEs: South Africa’s Road Freight SME Summit (Oct 21–22) focuses on unlocking working capital and stronger cash flow for fleet and logistics operators. Trade Facilitation: The East African Community says trade still can’t move at “digital speed” due to outdated border processes, despite progress like faster customs clearance. Digital Inclusion Investments: DNI is expanding telecom and fintech reach after buying Mission Mobile and KnowRoaming to push smartphone access and global mobility. Kenya Migration Pressure: South Africa–Nigeria migrant tensions rise again, with safety concerns and job competition driving renewed friction. Skills & Local Jobs: Huletts Sugar highlights local talent pipelines in KwaZulu-Natal, turning training into mill jobs for young people. AI Skills for SMEs: Meta and This Is Digital launch the AI Academy Kenya with a pitchathon and practical masterclasses for startups and small businesses. Liberia Finance Reform: Liberia moves to tackle non-performing loans with a new task force to unlock lending for entrepreneurs. Export Finance Push: POSB is prioritising export financing for local businesses to support valued-added exports and regional market growth.

Climate Resilience & Energy Access: Africa is being pushed to bake climate resilience into housing, cities and power as extreme weather and heat hit informal settlements hardest, while Nigeria’s Mission 300 says distributed solar is key to reaching 70m unelectrified people. SME Finance & Banking Access: Nigeria’s banks shut 476 branches and cash centres as digital banking expands, while Sidian Bank’s John Okulo argues capital markets could help close the MSME funding gap by sharing credit risk. Payments & Trade for SMEs: XTransfer debuted at Seamless Africa 2026 to reduce cross-border payment friction for SME traders, and Synapse Analytics raised US$13m to help financial institutions deploy AI-driven decisioning. Industrial Development Funding: Deloitte Ghana calls for a specialised industrial bank modelled on Nigeria’s Bank of Industry to unlock long-term, low-cost financing for local businesses. SME Reality Check (South Africa): A GEM report says South Africa’s SME enabling environment scores low (3.9/10) due to gaps between policy and delivery. Petrol Price Pressure (Nigeria): Kebbi’s NOA urges calm over rising PMS prices, linking swings to crude oil and FX under deregulation. Health Access (Biologics): Bio Usawa and Axmed partner to expand affordable biologic medicines procurement across Sub-Saharan Africa. Petroleum Governance (Ghana-Uganda): Regulators deepen upstream cooperation through peer learning on governance, regulation and local content. Jobs via Skills & Internships (Liberia): TDA expands youth internships, reaching 45 students in the latest cycle. Construction Cashflow Risk (South Africa): Construction SMEs warn that working capital delays in the tender-to-payment cycle can kill projects before they start.

BRICS Summit Wrap: PM Modi warned that the “weaponisation” of technology and critical minerals could block shared prosperity, while BRICS adopted the New Delhi Declaration calling for UN Security Council reform, better global governance, and more support for MSMEs, including trade and payments cooperation. MSME Finance Push: Sidian Bank CEO John Okulo urged Kenya’s capital markets to help close the MSME funding gap by sharing credit risk, as banks face pressure to lend more while protecting asset quality. Construction Working-Capital Gap: South Africa’s construction SMEs risk being left behind in a R1 trillion infrastructure boom because tender-to-payment delays starve them of fast working capital. Liberia SME Dialogue: Liberia’s Central Bank and partners discussed a Line of Credit model aimed at expanding affordable finance for MSMEs tied to viable businesses and job creation. Kenya Trader Crackdown Fallout: Kenya’s crackdown on foreign small-scale traders has triggered panic and xenophobia fears across the region, with Burundians and other EAC traders reporting threats and rushing to regularise or leave. Botswana–China Partnership: Botswana’s justice minister thanked Chinese partners for technology, skills and jobs, urging local entrepreneurs to turn deals into joint ventures and livelihoods. Zimbabwe–UAE Real Estate PPP: A UK-based Zimbabwean-led firm partnered with UAE developer Arada and its foundation under a PPP framework focused on housing, water modernisation and education infrastructure.

BRICS Summit, Global South agenda: BRICS leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration, warning of nuclear risks and attacks on civilian infrastructure, pushing UN Security Council reform, and calling for more inclusive global governance—while also putting MSMEs on the agenda through trade, finance and technology access. Kenya foreign traders backlash: Kenya’s crackdown on foreign small-scale traders sparked xenophobia fears and regional tension, but President Ruto and lawmakers moved to reassure investors and EAC citizens, saying foreigners can work and invest if they regularise and follow the law. Nigeria election economics: Atiku Abubakar doubled down on a “production subsidy” pitch—refining crude in Nigeria to cut fuel costs and lower transport and business energy expenses—while filings show Tinubu and Atiku camps spent $10.2m on US lobbying that critics say could have funded many small businesses. Nigeria power for SMEs: Mission 300 says distributed solar is key to reaching 70m unelectrified Nigerians, citing millions of new off-grid connections and government-backed subsidies to help firms deploy solar. SME operations tech: ASK Tech Ventures launched ODIGO CMS to help African businesses manage and measure distributed sales and field execution across multiple locations. Skills for returnees: Zimbabwe registered 65,455 returning from South Africa for a skills audit to match talent with local opportunities and support reintegration.

IPO Access for Ordinary Nigerians: Dangote Refinery chief Aliko Dangote says the minimum IPO subscription will be pegged at 10 shares to widen participation, as the 700,000 bpd refinery readies for a major wealth-creation moment. Jobs & Skills Gap in East Africa: Tanzania’s Kagera coffee and hospitality scene is spotlighting a growing mismatch between what employers need and what jobseekers can deliver. BRICS Push for MSMEs: The New Delhi Declaration puts micro, small and medium enterprises in the spotlight, backing access to finance and technology as BRICS leaders also stress trade, local-currency settlements and development. Kenya Trader Crackdown Backlash: Kenya’s foreign small-trader crackdown sparked fears of harassment and xenophobia, but President Ruto later reassured that foreigners can work and invest if they regularise and follow the rules. Nigeria Fuel Affordability Plan: Atiku Abubakar doubles down on a “production subsidy” idea—supporting locally refined fuel to cut costs for transport, food and small businesses. Distributed Solar for 70m Nigerians: Mission 300 says distributed solar can help reach Nigeria’s 70 million without electricity, supported by capital subsidies under DARES. SME Credit in Nigeria: FinStore says SMEs on its platform can access loans up to N100m to expand, alongside monthly funding. Field Ops Digitisation: ASK Tech Ventures launches ODIGO CMS to give African businesses visibility and control over distributed sales and marketing teams. Rwanda Steel Move: Rwanda opens A1 Iron & Steel in Musanze to reduce reliance on imported steel and capture more value locally.