DP World: Why Africa Will Prosper Through Turbulent Trade

DP World has helped to transform Africa's trade and logistics landscape through improved port and logistics infrastructure, supported by modern technology and integrated regional trade frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), all of which have been, and remain critical to enhancing supply chain efficiency and unlocking new trade and market opportunities across the continent.

Championing Africa's untapped potential

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman & CEO of DP World, Chairman of the Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation has taken to LinkedIn to voice why he believes that the continent will continue to elevate its role in today's trade landscape.

Sultan says he has always championed Africa and its potential, urging business leaders not to just see it as a place for raw materials, but as an export market for goods.

DP World has backed up this belief, investing US$3bn into the country, and has committed to investing another US$3bn into ports and logistics infrastructure in the next three to five years.

"My belief in Africa principally reflects its immense size, a new generation of visionary leaders and the incredible capabilities of modern logistics," he says.

"Together, they will elevate Africa's role in today's trade landscape and, most importantly, will increase prosperity for its people."

Trading right now is harder than ever, as Sultan highlights rising trade barriers across the world, something DP World understands more than most, as it handles just over 9% of the global container trade.

AfCFTA: A game-changer despite early challenges

There is also the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which was an historical agreement signed by 54 states containing about 1.4 billion people and ratified by 49 so far, which has been active since 2021. The area is now the world's largest free trade area by number of countries.

Sultan adds: "So far, fewer than half of member states are actively trading under its framework, according to a Reuters report in July, which also highlights concerns about tariffs.

"We are keen to help drive progress, and especially since infrastructure, including hard infrastructure like warehouses and soft infrastructure like digital customs, has a key role to play.

"Despite the challenges, I remain upbeat about the continent's prospects and am keen to share why."

There is the fact that Africa's economy is growing faster than the global average. The World Bank forecast growth for Sub-Saharan Africa of 3.7% this year, followed by an annual average of 4.2% across 2026 and 2027.

Africa's projected growth substantially exceeds global economic forecasts of 2.3% in 2025 and 2.5% for both 2026 and 2027.

Despite the World Bank's caution that these projections could shift due to changing trade policies, the data underscores Africa's accelerated economic expansion compared to worldwide trends.

There is also the fact that most of the countries are outpacing the Sub-Saharan averages. Take, for example, Rwanda, which posted growth above 8% for each of the past three years and is forecast to grow 7% this year, with an average of 7.3% across 2026 and 2027.

"This reflects successful smart government policy, but I'm especially delighted because DP World has played a supportive role, highlighting the value of infrastructure and logistics," Sultan adds.

DP World's Kigali Logistics Platform, located on the outskirts of the country's capital, is an inland dry port and logistics hub developed under a 25-year agreement with the government signed in 2016.

It holds capacity for 50,000 containers each year and its services include bonded warehousing as well as cold storage, acting as a link between those landlocked countries to seaports in Mombasa, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

In addition, it acts as a regional hub helping the surrounding landlocked nations of Burundi and Uganda, as well as large parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), whose just 25 miles of coastline is on the other side of Africa.

Five insights shaping Africa's future

Sultan highlights how his position at DP World and meeting national and business leaders, means he can present five key insights that are shaping his view and which he believes may inspire others:

Modern infrastructure drives commercial expansion

This encompasses contemporary maritime and inland ports positioned as regional trading centres through special economic zones, connecting shipping networks and comprehensive road and rail systems. Strategic inland trade corridors are emerging, such as the Berbera Corridor connecting Ethiopia to Somaliland's coastline and the Maputo Corridor linking South Africa's Gauteng province to Mozambican ports.

Africa's leadership demonstrates clear vision and determination

The current generation of political and business leaders across the continent possesses sophisticated knowledge, bold aspirations and unwavering commitment to economic development. These qualities become immediately apparent in direct engagement with them and reflect the natural evolution of leadership in our interconnected global landscape. The near-universal ratification of the AfCFTA by African nations provides compelling evidence of this unified vision.

Global realignment supports African trade despite existing barriers

The transition toward a multipolar world economy and expanding South-South commerce are reshaping international trade dynamics. UN Trade and Development data reveals that South-South trade's share of global merchandise exchange grew from 11% in 2000 to 26% in 2024, positioning Africa to both influence and capitalise on these transformative patterns.

Digital innovation creates new opportunities across markets

Technological advancement delivers broad advantages through enhanced information flow that stimulates trade and sophisticated logistics that streamline operations. Specific innovations include digital customs processing, real-time shipment monitoring and integrated terminal management systems. These tools enable businesses of all sizes to implement comprehensive logistics solutions and access previously unreachable markets, democratising global commerce participation.

Capital remains accessible for African commerce

Through our dedicated Trade Finance division, we actively support business growth across the continent. Our inaugural collaboration with J.P. Morgan this year exemplifies this commitment, facilitating a major international food corporation's cocoa procurement from Côte d'Ivoire, one of the world's premier agricultural export regions.

"Today, Africa has not just potential, but momentum–underpinned by real developments across the continent and the progress of trade," Sultan adds.

"With growth rates outpacing the world, a new generation of visionary leaders and infrastructure unlocking potential, the outlook is bright. My hope is that businesses both within and beyond the continent will drive trade and investment – and ultimately increase prosperity across Africa."