Key assets include Saldanha Bay Port—Africa’s deepest natural harbour—for bulk exports such as iron ore, supporting oil, gas, and maritime services. The district includes five municipalities: Matzikama, Cederberg, Bergrivier, Saldanha Bay, and Swartland. 

In 2024, the WCD generated R47.1-billion in GDPR (Gross Domestic Product per Region), contributing 5.1% to the Western Cape economy. It supported 182,346 jobs (7.1% of provincial employment). Sectoral composition in 2024 showed a balanced mix: 

• Primary activities: 25.0% of GDPR and 38.0% of jobs (agriculture dominant at 23.9% GDPR and 37.8% employment). 
• Secondary sector: 26.1% of GDPR (manufacturing 21.1%). 
• Tertiary sector: 48.9% of GDPR and nearly half of jobs (strong in trade, finance, personal services, and government). 

Growth opportunities abound in renewables (wind/solar farms), green hydrogen, aquaculture, agro-processing, and eco-tourism, driven by the revised Economic Development Strategy (May 2025), which emphasises inclusive growth for higher employment and incomes through private-sector innovation and stakeholder synergy. 

Projections & Featured Projects: Long-term GDPR growth 1.4%–2.0% annually through 2028. FDI since 2003: R631.7m (1,504 jobs).

Key projects:

• Matzikama Aquaculture Zone (R600m–R1bn),
• Clanwilliam Smart Town (R450m),
• Hopefield Museum (R6m),
• green hydrogen initiatives (multi-billion scale potential). 

Planning for Growth 

The Een Weskus / One West Coast Plan 2025-2050 (revised Nov 2025) and Spatial Development Framework (2020) guide sustainable development, focusing on nodes such as Saldanha-Vredenburg and the N7/Olifants corridors.

Under-supply of social facilities (e.g., 40 primary schools) creates opportunities for education/health investments. IDP Amendment (2022-2027) and 2024-2027 Budget/MTREF support these. 

Municipal investment profiling: A digital approach

In 2023, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA introduced the “Investment Profile Template Guide for Municipalities in South Africa” to help municipalities present their investment potential. Research showed only 15% of South African municipalities had investment profiles at the time.

However, limited financial and human resources have hindered digital promotion and investment attraction. SALGA has launched a programme to assist municipalities with digital initiatives, and the following municipalities are included in the first phase:

• City of Ekurhuleni (Gauteng) 
• West Coast District Municipality (Western Cape) 
• Mnquma Local Municipality (Eastern Cape) 
• Matjhabeng Local Municipality (Free State)

The main objective of this project is to provide municipalities with a platform to market themselves as investment destinations to both domestic and foreign investors using an already existing platform and access to the Global Africa Network audience.  

22 July 2026 | Country Club Johannesburg, Auckland Park

The 8th edition of the Coal and Energy Transition Day takes place on Wednesday 22 July 2026.

As the world grapples with conflicts, supply chain disruptions and geopolitical shocks, this year’s event will discuss coal’s ongoing role in ensuring global energy security and the pressing need to transition to cleaner energy sources. Industry leaders from government, major and junior coal producers, alternative energy providers, investors, port and logistics providers and independent experts will discuss key issues such as:

• What recent geopolitical and economic developments are driving the increased focus towards energy security and what are the implications?
• What are the perspectives of the major South African coal producers on the future of coal?
• What are the timelines for the energy transition?
• What will the future energy mix of South Africa look like?
• How can we manage the transition responsibly?
• What is Eskom’s perspective on coal and what are its plans to transition to renewable energy sources?
• How are the issues around coal transport and logistics being overcome to increase export capacity?
• What are the challenges and opportunities for junior coal miners?
• What are investors’ perspectives on funding coal and the energy transition?
• What are the latest developments in renewable energy and their contribution to South Africa’s energy mix?

Registrations for 2026 are now open

Be sure to register early in order to guarantee your place!

Hosted by the East London Industrial Development Zone (ELIDZ) in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) through the Natural Resources Stewardship Programme II (NatuReS II), the three-day regional exchange will take place from 24 – 26 February 2026 at the ELIDZ Conference Centre.

The gathering comes at a time when water security is increasingly becoming a defining challenge for economic growth and industrial sustainability across Africa. Delegates from South Africa, Ethiopia, Zambia and Tanzania — including representatives from government, industry, water utilities, academia, civil society and development institutions will share practical approaches aimed at strengthening water stewardship while sustaining industrial competitiveness and economic resilience.

Held under the theme: “From Source to Industry: Stewardship Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships for Socio-Ecological Transformation and Water-Smart Industrial Futures,” the exchange will explore how collaborative partnerships between industry, government and communities can respond to growing climate pressures and water scarcity challenges affecting industrial regions across the continent.

The programme will further showcase how industrial zones can serve as innovation platforms for sustainable resource management, highlighting the ELIDZ’s implementation of water stewardship initiatives as part of advancing integrated, climate-responsive industrial development.

Event details

• Event: Natures II Regional Learning Exchange 2026
• Dates: 24-26 February 2026
• Time: 08:30-17:00
• Venue: ELIDZ Conference Centre, East London

Programme highlights

Media will have opportunities to cover:

• Opening leadership addresses outlining regional priorities for water security and sustainable industrialization
• High-level discussions on the link between water resilience and industrial competitiveness
• African case studies demonstrating multi-stakeholder stewardship partnerships
• Industry dialogue on the business case for water stewardship
• Guided site visits showcasing ELIDZ water stewardship infrastructure, including water testing and alternative water-sourcing facilities
• Interview opportunities with programme leaders, technical experts, and participating stakeholders

Members of the media are invited to attend selected sessions and engagements during the programme. Media representatives are requested to confirm attendance in advance for accreditation and logistical arrangements.

Media RSVP & enquiries

• Siphosethu Tikana (CPRP)
• Acting Manager: Marketing & Corporate Communications
• East London Industrial Development Zone (ELIDZ)
• Email: siphosethuti@elidz.co.za | Website: www.elidz.co.za

About East London Industrial Development Zone (ELIDZ)

The East London Industrial Development Zone (ELIDZ) is a prime industrial site in South Africa. It is geographically designated and positioned for specialised industrial activity. The ELIDZ was one of the first IDZs in South Africa to be awarded a provisional operator’s licence in September 2002.

Renowned for its leadership sustainability, the ELIDZ has earned the prestigious title of being named one of the world’s leading Eco-Parks. This recognition, awarded by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation’s (UNIDO) Global Eco-Industrial Park Programme (GEIPP), highlights the ELIDZ’s unparalleled commitment to environmental conservation.

Serving as a global model for eco-industrial parks, the ELIDZ epitomises innovation, infrastructure, and skills development as crucial elements for unlocking economic opportunities, not only in South Africa but worldwide.

The Free State’s economy grew at an average annual rate of 0.38% over 10 years from R191-billion in 2013 to R342-billion in 2023. The province contributed 4.87% to the South Africa GDP of R7.02-trillion in 2023 and achieved an annual growth rate of 0.15% in the same year, which is lower than the country’s growth rate of 0.70%. It is our considered view that the province must aim to grow the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at an average annual rate of 1.58%, or higher, from 2025 to 2028.

Strategic location is ideal for trade and investment

The Free State Province lies in the heart of South Africa between the Vaal River in the north and the Orange River in the south. The province is a gateway to the Kingdom of Lesotho which is surrounded by the South African provinces of Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape.

The Free State is an ideal investment destination as it is blessed with abundant natural resources. The province is ideally located at the confluence of major logistics arterials and corridors such as the R30, N1, N6, N5, N8 and N3. This makes the movement of goods very economically viable.

Various infrastructure renovations and upgrading projects are underway and this will contribute to an improved investment climate.

The province is also an ideal destination for renewable energy projects, including solar PV, hydro and wind projects. In addition, the grid availability in the province presents an opportunity for investments in independent power producer (IPP) projects in the province. The Free State is also referred to as the breadbasket of the country as agriculture is a significant contributor to its GDP.

Investment opportunities

Renewable energy

The province is an ideal destination for renewable energy projects of all kinds. Good grid availability and enthusiastic investment facilitation present particularly attractive opportunities for investments in the province.

Mining and gas extraction

Although the mining sector is no longer dominant, coal, diamond and gold mining still make up an important part of the Free State economy. Natural gas was first discovered in a Virginia gold mine in 1947, and the mine has been producing combustible gas ever since. A massive amount of helium is produced as a byproduct of natural gas production.

The province has potential mining and beneficiation opportunities in commodities such as gold, diamonds, coal and rare earth elements. Sand and aggregate mining in the Free State province have become very attractive as part of supporting the construction ecosystem.

Special Economic Zones and Industrial Parks

The Maluti-A-Phofung Special Economic Zone (MAPSEZ) is strategically located on the key N5 and N3 logistics corridors which makes it an ideal investment destination. The MAPSEZ aims to attract R2-billion in new investments. Sectors prioritised in the zone are logistics, agro-processing, ICT, automotive, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing.

The 1 000ha estate is divided into four zones: agro-processing, light industrial, heavy industrial and a container terminal.

The Free State, working with the National Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), is upgrading the industrial parks in Botshabelo, Thaba ‘Nchu and Phuthaditjhaba to provide infrastructure to encourage manufacturing in these areas.

The manufacturing and retail sectors provide attractive opportunities for investors in these industrial parks.

Agriculture

The Free State is blessed with abundant production of crops such as maize and sunflower, soya, wheat and potatoes. Livestock farming is also a dominant feature of our agricultural activities.

This region is one of the biggest producers of these crops and there are agri-processing investment opportunities linked to these primary products.

The annual National Maize Producers Organisation (NAMPO) festival is held just outside the border of the province in Bothaville, which is the headquarters of GrainSA.

It is thus imperative for investments into the agriculture sector to increase in this area as there is sufficient land for this. This will ensure a healthy growth over time so that Free State can reclaim its title of being the breadbasket of the country.

Tourism

The Free State Province is home to several strategic and unique natural and cultural assets that offer significant opportunities for tourism investment through strategic partnerships. This approach, which has shown success in the Kruger National Park, can be replicated in the Free State.

Collaboration between the public sector and private investors has the potential to develop high-end tourism facilities:

Sterkfontein Dam and Gariep Dam: These large dams are not only engineering marvels but also scenic spots perfect for developing luxury resorts, water sports and fishing activities. Private investors can build exclusive lodges and organise guided tours, capitalising on the breathtaking views and serene environment.

Clarens and Vredefort Dome: Known for its artistic community, Clarens in the eastern Free State is situated in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains. The Vredefort Dome near Parys is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a unique geological wonder.

Both sites present opportunities for unique lodging experiences that blend luxury with natural and historical exploration. Boutique hotels and eco-lodges can offer guests a blend of comfort, art and heritage tours.

Mangaung: As the provincial capital, Bloemfontein offers potential for urban tourism. Investing in upscale hotels, conference centres and cultural experiences like museum tours and city heritage walks can attract both leisure and business travelers.

State resorts: Existing state resorts in prime locations present opportunities for upgrades and modernisation. Private-sector players can revitalise these resorts, introducing luxury accommodation, spa services and bespoke adventure activities tailored to discerning travellers.

Message to investors

Investments do not happen in a vacuum: a conducive environment has to be created to ensure that investors find a home in our province.

As part of encouraging inward investments, the province commits to reducing red tape and improving the ease of doing business. Our message to investors across the world is this:

Invest in the Free State, the province at the centre of it all!

Contact

Interested parties who wish to look deeper into any of the above mentioned opportunities are encouraged to send a brief message of introduction to the investment facilitation team:

Tempo Equipment & Attachments is at the forefront of this evolution, utilising cutting-edge technology and next-generation design to create purposeful, long-lasting attachments that thrive in demanding mining environments. 

CTC Plant Company is the exclusive agent for Tempo Equipment & Attachments, bringing world-class mining solutions to Southern Africa.

Tempo Equipment and Attachments 

With decades of experience, Tempo produces innovative, custom-designed, and durable attachments engineered to stand the test of time. Serving multiple industries, including mining, Tempo has built a strong reputation for high-quality equipment that redefines efficiency without compromise. 

Each attachment is manufactured in a state-of-the-art 83,000 m² facility, ensuring adaptability, durability, and precision for long-term performance. 

Mining Productivity and Safety 

Tempo attachments are engineered to withstand rugged terrain while maintaining consistent, high-performance output. 

From Vibro Rippers designed for quieter, more efficient operations to Hydraulic Hammers built for maximum impact. Tempo solutions enable mines to upgrade and diversify fleets, future-proof operations, and maximise returns throughout the mine’s full life. 

Sustainable Mining Technology 

Tempo’s research and development team integrates global expertise with pioneering technology to deliver advanced solutions that enhance productivity while elevating on-site safety. In an industry where modern mining demands disruptive innovation, Tempo’s technology delivers immediate performance gains while supporting long-term resilience and safer, more sustainable mining practices. 

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Customer Support You Can Trust 

CTC Plant Company has a trusted reputation in the earthmoving and mining machinery industry. From consultation to after-sales services, CTC provides bespoke attachments and reliable local support that maximise productivity. 

The Future of Mining 

Together, CTC Plant Company and Tempo Equipment & Attachments are driving a new model of mining, one focused on innovation, durability, safety, and sustainable performance. 

Contact Us 

• • Mark Swanepoel 
  • +27 82 825 6966 
  • marks@ctcplant.co.za | info@tempoequipment.com 
  • www.ctcplant.co.za | www.tempoequipment.com 
  • Cnr. Michigan & Manchester Street, Boquinar Industrial Area, Cape Town, 7460

Through the conference, side events, exhibition and networking forums, delegates exchange knowledge and collaborate on solutions driving sustainable growth. As a world-class platform for innovation and partnership, the event unites CEOs, ministers, investors and experts to share insights and shape Africa’s energy future.

Find out more: https://africaenergyindaba.com/

Scheduled for November 21 in Johannesburg, the program will feature a series of high-level fireside chats examining the role of international capital, development finance and local expertise in transforming Africa’s energy landscape, in line with G20 priorities on infrastructure, energy security and private-sector mobilization.

Highlighting deepening ties between Africa and the Middle East, one session will examine how Saudi-led investment is driving Africa’s energy transformation. As Saudi companies expand their commitment to the continent – with Saudi Arabia pledging $41-billion over the next decade to support Sub-Saharan Africa – the conversation will spotlight cross-border partnerships delivering renewable and conventional energy projects. These initiatives provide the scale, expertise and capital needed to accelerate the continent’s energy transition while meeting rapidly growing demand.

Development finance institutions and multilateral organizations will take center stage in a discussion on enhancing local market access. Speakers will examine strategies for reducing barriers to investment and creating financing frameworks that can mobilize private capital across Africa. Efficient capital deployment at this moment is critical for determining the pace of the continent’s energy growth and achieving G20-aligned development objectives.

Another session will provide insight into Africa’s gas potential and its role in both regional industrialization and the global energy transition. By positioning gas as both a transitional and strategic resource, the conversation will highlight how the continent can strengthen energy security while advancing its own economic development.

A fireside chat on de-risking capital and removing investment barriers will focus on practical approaches to mitigating investment risks, structuring finance and creating investment-ready projects that can attract both regional and international private capital – an essential step for turning Africa’s energy opportunities into tangible development outcomes.

“Africa’s energy transformation depends on connecting global investors with African projects, while giving local stakeholders a central role in shaping outcomes. These sessions will turn discussions into action, helping unlock the capital and partnerships needed to power growth, create jobs and support sustainable development,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.

As global attention turns to Africa ahead of the G20 Summit, the forum will not only showcase the continent’s energy potential but also demonstrate how strategic investment, collaboration and innovative finance can deliver results. From mobilizing private capital to strengthening local markets and advancing the energy transition, these conversations are set to define the next chapter of Africa’s energy story and its growing role in the global investment ecosystem.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Hon. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Minister of Energy and Electricity, South Africa
• Alfred Seem, Group Executive: Strategic Delivery Unit, Eskom
• Olu Verheijen, Special Adviser to the Nigerian President on Energy, Nigeria
• Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC)
• Acha Leke, Chairman, McKinsey Africa
• Sesakho Magadla, Interim CEO, PetroSA
• Wale Tinubu, CEO, Oando
• Titus Mathe, CEO, SANEDI
• Nick Rowley, Managing Director, Green Asset Exchange
• Rene Awambeng, CEO, Premier Invest
• Kara Neale, Commercial Leader, Clarke Energy
• Nzan Ogbe, CEO, Levene Energy
• Simon Karikari, CEO, Vodacom Mozambique
• Samira Mensah, Managing Director, Head of Ratings Africa, S&P Global
• Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary, ARDA
• Dele Kuti, Global Head: Energy and Infrastructure, Standard Bank
• Adrian Strydom, Executive Director/CEO, SAOGA
• Lida Preyma, Founder & CEO, Cēlandaire Capital
• Simon Van Wyk, Director of Sustainability & ESG, Deloitte Africa
• Selma Shimutwikeni, Founder & CEO, RichAfrica Consultancy
• Tamsin Donaldson, Head of Communications and Public Relations, Petredec
• NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber (AEC)
• Sesakho Magadla, Interim CEO of PetroSA
• Olu Arowolo Verheijen, Nigeria’s Special Advisor to President Bola Tinubu
• Rene Awambeng, Founder and Managing Director of Premier Invest

To register for the Forum, click here.

With a wide variety of topics being covered, this is an opportunity for people from various industries to participate. The food industry, the mining industry, the agricultural industry as well as the private sector can all benefit from this dialogue.

The dialogue is the perfect opportunity for young professionals in various industries to learn about the water and sanitation sector. This is an exciting opportunity for young professionals as well as students to gain mentorship from industry leaders.

AWSISA aims to modernize STEM education and outreach, and the dialogue is the perfect opportunity for various members to share their insights into how this can be achieved. We can’t wait to recognize all the youth innovators that we meet at the dialogue in November.

Find out more: https://www.awsisa-watersan-dialougue.org/

The Critical Minerals Africa (CMA) 2024 Summit in Cape Town brought together industry leaders, policymakers, service providers and investors to address the urgent demands of Africa’s critical mineral value chain. The Summit featured a robust agenda that sought to shine a spotlight on opportunities for Africa to accelerate its mining sector while utilising its natural resources to promote value addition and drive socioeconomic development.

CMA 2024 featured a Ministerial Forum that included the participation of mining ministries from Eswatini, Malawi and Argentina, as well as representatives from Tanzania. High-level speakers during the forum showcased a number of projects aimed at maximising mineral production
while discussing how to leverage mineral resources to promote economic growth and sustainability.

The Republic of Malawi’s Minister of Mining, Monica Chang’anamuno, highlighted several ongoing projects in the country, such as the Kasongo Initiative, which aims to increase the production of rare earth metals, graphite and lithium resources.

Meanwhile, Eswatini’s Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, Prince Lonkhokhela, announced ambitious targets to raise the contribution of the country’s mining sector to its GDP. With aims to increase the share from 1% to 50% in the short to medium term, the strategy is supported by new surveys revealing commercial deposits of lithium, copper, cobalt and other base metals.

To bolster investment in mid- and downstream infrastructure, the Summit also featured the participation of the President of the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe, Thomas Gono, who stated, “Historically, we exported raw materials, missing out on the potential benefits. With Africa’s young workforce, we now have an opportunity to drive revenue and create jobs through skills development and local beneficiation.”

An Investment Forum held during the Summit showcased innovative financing measures to advance the flow of capital across the African market. The session featured representatives from finance institutions, the World Bank, Absa, Moshe Capital, the African Finance Corporation and ASAFO & Co.

With the participation of Tanzania’s Chamber of Mines, it was announced that the country aims to expand exploration in critical mineral-rich basins from 16% to 50% as part of a strategic push into rare earths, lithium and tanzanite production. Meanwhile, Zambia’s Chamber of Mines discussed ongoing strategies aimed at helping the country address logistics and energy deficit challenges in the mining sector.

The Summit featured a panel discussion with high-level representatives from mining companies and development institutions including Pensana, the Africa Policy Research Institute and the US Development Finance Corporation. The panel also featured the participation of Clifford Chance, Frost & Sullivan and Chatham House and explored how regional initiatives – such as the Lobito Corridor – have the potential to fast-track the expansion of Africa’s critical-minerals market.

An Investment Forum held during the Summit showcased innovative financing measures to advance the flow of capital across the African market. The session featured representatives from finance institutions, the World Bank, Absa, Moshe Capital, the African Finance Corporation and ASAFO & Co.

Additionally, midstream and downstream opportunities were showcased during a panel session that featured the participation of organisations such as Orion Minerals, AZ Arnaturen, Women in Green Hydrogen, Isondo Precious Metals and the Southern African-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The panel also featured representatives from Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, the SA-DRC Chamber of Commerce, the Curtin Institute for Energy Transition, the Electric Mobility Association of Kenya and the Congolese Battery Council.

A Leaders Forum featured the participation of international mining companies Glencore DRC and KoBold Metals as well as representatives from the University of Cape Town and the Minerals Council South Africa. The Forum showcased how governments across Africa can promote innovation in the continent’s mining space to attract new investment and increase critical minerals production to drive socioeconomic and GDP growth.

Research findings

The CMA 2024 Summit brought a high degree of sharp analysis and market research to bear on factors affecting the sector on the continent.

Among the presentations on the state of play of the African market were those delivered by well-known market research firms Project Blue and Rystad Energy, as well as by several senior officials from organisations such as the World Bank.

Nils Backeberg, Founder and Director at Project Blue, stated that geopolitical shifts and the rising demand for metals essential to energy transition technologies are impacting the African market.

“Changes in government policies across countries such as Botswana, Mozambique, the US and regions in Europe will shape mineral trade and investment relations,” he noted, “underscoring the effects of global power shifts on Africa’s mineral sector.”

Backeberg pointed to US-China trade tensions and similar dynamics involving Europe and Japan as potential accelerators of investments in Africa’s supply chain, with Tanzania emerging as a focal point in the US-China competition over Southern African minerals.

The US recently announced an initiative to expand the Lobito Corridor, spanning Angola, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to Tanzania, while China signed an agreement with Tanzania and Zambia for the TAZARA railway project.

“Africa’s geopolitical opportunities are vast, but supply chains are becoming increasingly complex,” stated Backeberg.

The electric vehicles market boom will also amplify investment in Africa’s copper, lithium and cobalt sectors, according to Backeberg, with China currently leading this demand surge, Europe advancing and the US projected to slow down due to political shifts.

The US recently announced an initiative to expand the Lobito Corridor, spanning Angola, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to Tanzania, while China signed an agreement with Tanzania and Zambia for the TAZARA railway project.

Martin Lokanc, Senior Mining Specialist at the World Bank, discussed population growth, increased economic activities and their implications on Africa’s critical-minerals sector. He highlighted the fact that rapid urbanisation – expected to see 60% of the global population in cities by 2050 – is driving demand for critical minerals, with Africa and India at the forefront.

“Decarbonisation is a significant disruptor, prompting a reengineering of the global energy system and requiring more minerals, particularly from Africa,” Lokanc stated. He added that copper demand is projected to double by 2050, offering Africa, particularly the DRC and Zambia, a prime opportunity to expand their market share.

Lokanc also called for more local beneficiation to ensure that mining profits fuel local economies, noting that many of the world’s poorest regions overlap with high mineral concentrations.

Erik Holm Reiso, Senior Partner and Head of EMEA at Rystad Energy, emphasised Africa’s potential to address the global metals shortage, with lithium demand expected to surge by 12 times by 2050.

Wade Cherwayko, Co-founder and Director of Tronic Metals Ltd, added, “We cannot overlook African oil and gas; instead, we must harness these resources to support a stable power supply that will underpin critical mineral production and energy diversification.”

Competition laws are being enforced in most African countries. Several new national and regional competition regulators have recently become operational, and plans are underway for the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement (AfCFTA) to harmonise competition law across the continent.

While these are positive developments to promote fair markets, the impact on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), particularly those involving foreign investment, is complex. The flurry of new competition regulators (national, regional and continental) may bring more convenience and consistency to the merger filing process, but there are also concerns about political tensions, overlapping jurisdictions and high merger filing fees.

There have been some regulatory developments in 2024, including the AfCFTA Competition Protocol being published. The protocol aims to establish a continental regulator who will assess merger transactions with a “continental dimension”. The AfCFTA will apply to the whole continent, not just certain member states. Regulations setting out merger thresholds are expected to be finalised soon.

The ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) became fully operational in October 2024. The ERCA must be notified of mergers involving parties that meet certain financial thresholds. The ECOWAS region comprises 15 West African member states, including Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Togo. Military coups in member states such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, which have led to their withdrawal from ECOWAS, also undermine the political stability of ECOWAS.

The publication of draft COMESA Competition Commission (CCC) regulations proposes that the CCC enforce a suspensory merger control regime. This shift from the current suspensory regime, which allows parties to implement their transaction before CCC merger approval, means that merger parties must now first obtain approval from the CCC before implementation. The COMESA region covers 21 African member states, including Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The East African Community Competition Authority is expected to begin accepting merger filings soon. The East African Community (EAC) region covers eight member states, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

From a national perspective, the Uganda Competition Act 2024 became effective, and merger thresholds were expected to be published in the same year. The Malawi merger-control regime changed its voluntary merger notification requirement to a mandatory requirement. Egypt also introduced a new merger control regime requiring that mergers be submitted to the national competition regulator for approval before implementation.

Proliferation complication

However, many complications arise due to the proliferation of regional regulators, in contrast to the European Union (EU), where only the European Commission (EC) regulates competition law across the continent, with national competition regulators across the EU recognising the EC’s jurisdiction.

In Africa, several overlapping countries exist among regional regulators, and most AfCFTA member states also belong to a regional competition regulator. For example, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda are common member states across both COMESA and the EAC – with all their member states also falling under the AfCFTA competition law regime. These overlaps may introduce conflicts when regulators exercise jurisdiction.

This has been the case with the Egyptian Competition Authority and the Ethiopian Trade, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority, who have taken the approach that merger parties should submit merger filings to it separately, even if a merger is submitted to the CCC. This approach could result in increased transactional costs through duplication, from both a timing and resources perspective, including the possibility of paying merger filing fees to multiple competition regulators.

The ECOWAS merger thresholds are also relatively low. Compared to the CCC combined turnover thresholds of the merger parties, which is $50-million, the ECOWAS thresholds are almost half at approximately $25-million. Reduced thresholds will lead to an increase in merger filings where there may not be an impact on competition that requires regulatory scrutiny.

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Increased competition law enforcement in Africa has potential positive developments for M&A transactions. In some instances, submitting merger filings to a regional regulator addresses the issue of navigating uncertain competition law processes in individual jurisdictions. For example, most Francophone countries in Africa have newly established competition law regimes or no competition law. From a deal-planning perspective, this also means that merger parties will ideally pay one merger filing fee to the regional (or continental) regulator and have more certainty on review timelines when planning towards closing transactions.

However, some regional competition regulators, such as the CCC, allow member states to call for national review of transactions. The ability of national regulators to exercise concurrent jurisdiction can create deal uncertainty. This has recently been seen in the Canal+ proposed acquisition of Multichoice, wherein the Competition Commission of Mauritius requested a referral of the merger to it, and in the CCC’s approval of a merger involving Access Bank Plc and National Bank of Kenya Limited, which was referred to the Competition Authority of Kenya for approval, separately to the CCC’s determination.

Addressing these complexities requires a coordinated effort to strengthen legal frameworks, enhance regional integration, and build the capacity of competition regulators across Africa without losing sight of the need for increased investment and economic growth.

It will be necessary for the various competition regulators to align their approaches. African competition regulators, both nationally and regionally, are increasingly demonstrating continental integration and an ability to learn from each other.

Newer competition regulators should learn from the best practices of more established regulators. For example, the ECOWAS competition regulator is encouraged to adopt a similar approach to the CCC with regard to merger filing fees. While the merger filing fees in COMESA and ECOWAS are 0.1% of the merging parties’ combined annual turnover or assets in the common market, COMESA has capped the fee at $200 000. In contrast, the ECOWAS filing fee is uncapped. This may raise serious concerns for merger parties with substantial turnover across the ECOWAS member states.

Addressing these complexities requires a coordinated effort to strengthen legal frameworks, enhance regional integration, and build the capacity of competition regulators across Africa without losing sight of the need for increased investment and economic growth.