Dubai electronics manufacturer to invest USD 1.6 bn in Africa: Dubai-based conglomerate Maser Group is investing in farmland and data centers across Africa, eyeing USD 1.6 bn in Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya over the next 24 months, Bloomberg reports. The group has already invested USD 300 mn to acquire land across the continent and in other asset-backed projects.

The game plan: The group’s investment arm MDR Investments is set to provide the majority of the financing alongside China’s Chia Ventures. With a USD 500 mn fund, MDR is actively pursuing public-private partnerships with Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Rwanda, and Nigeria across mining, low-cost housing, and agriculture. EnterpriseAM UAE wasn’t able to reach Maser for more details ahead of dispatch time.

Maser Group: Founded by Prateek Suri (LinkedIn) in 2014, the group has an existing operational presence in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, and Egypt.

Why this matters: The UAE is currently Africa’s largest source of foreign direct investment, with over USD 110 bn deployed across the continent since 2019. This capital influx coincides with a surge in commercial activity, as non-oil trade with Africa reached USD 112 bn in 2024, marking a 34% y-o-y increase.

Trade partnerships picking up: The Emirates has recently inked Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (Cepa) with several African nations, including Gabon, as well as Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with both agreements looking to secure supply chains for areas like food security and critical minerals, vital for its current AI push. The UAE, along with Saudi Arabia, also secured copper shipments from the DRC last week and expanded its ties with the country through several MoUs spanning mining, energy, and infrastructure last month.

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