Africa’s growth could outpace Asia’s this year - Financial Times

The global economic landscape is undergoing a significant realignment. According to recent International Monetary Fund analysis, Africa's aggregate economic growth trajectory is positioned to surpass Asia's performance in 2024, marking a watershed moment for the continent's investment profile. This development carries profound implications for European entrepreneurs and institutional investors seeking diversification beyond traditional emerging markets. The underlying drivers of Africa's accelerating growth are multifaceted and worth examining closely. Demographic momentum remains a primary engine — with over 60% of the continent's population under age 25, Africa possesses the world's youngest workforce. Simultaneously, technological leapfrogging has fundamentally altered the investment landscape. Mobile money adoption, fintech proliferation, and digital commerce platforms have circumvented legacy infrastructure gaps that previously constrained economic participation. Countries like Kenya, Nigeria, and Rwanda have emerged as continental technology hubs, attracting venture capital and enabling rapid business scaling. Commodity market stabilization has also provided crucial tailwinds. Following years of price volatility, energy and mineral markets have achieved relative equilibrium, improving fiscal predictability for resource-dependent economies. Additionally, intra-African trade integration through mechanisms like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is creating supply chain efficiencies and market access opportunities previously unavailable to regional producers. For European investors, this growth differential