CEOs in Africa discuss pragmatic strategies for private sector growth

At the ongoing Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) in Algiers, a high-impact panel of African CEOs has convened to discuss actionable strategies for catalyzing private sector growth across the continent.

The session, themed “Catalyzing Private Sector Growth in Africa; Insights from the CEOs at the Frontline”, moved beyond rhetoric to showcase real-world execution from mobilizing capital, building industries, to delivering innovation that creates jobs and drives inclusion.

MD and CEO of Infra Credit, Chinua Azubike, emphasized the urgent need for long-term, patient capital to drive infrastructure development. “How do we mobilize access to long-term patient capital from our domestic markets?” he asked. InfraCredit’s model uses guarantees to unlock pension and insurance funds, channeling them into critical sectors like roads, telecoms, and energy will lay the foundation for sustainable economic expansion.

Peter Maila, CEO of Zvilo Africa, tackled the persistent cash-flow challenges faced by SMEs. “Cash is the oxygen for businesses,” he declared. Maila highlighted how many firms collapse despite strong revenue and EBITDA, simply due to delayed payments. Zvilo’s solution accelerates supplier payments, ensuring small businesses aren’t crippled by 120-day payment cycles which is a game-changer for liquidity and survival.

On his part, Skander Oueslati, CIO and Deputy MD of AfricInvest Group, underscored the importance of proximity and local insight in SME investment. “SMEs require proximity, hand holding, and deep knowledge of the local ecosystem,” he noted. With over 200 investments and 120 successful exits, AfricInvest is proving that strategic support and early planning for exits can unlock entrepreneurial potential and build lasting capacity.

From Algeria, Abdenour Souakri, CEO of Souakri Group, shared a compelling growth story. Starting as a brick manufacturer, the company now holds a 51% stake in Holcim Algeria, operating two cement plants and exporting globally. Souakri Group is expanding into agriculture, petrochemicals, and steel, while investing in recycling and decarbonization and demonstrating how industrial evolution can align with sustainability.

In Angola, Hugo Azevedo, CEO of OPAIA Investments, spotlighted a $2.6 billion fertilizer project aimed at transforming agriculture. “It’s time that we say it’s our countries. These are our assets,” he affirmed. By producing local fertilizer inputs, OPAIA is reducing dependency on imports and empowering farmers—fueling food security and economic sovereignty.

CEO of Biopharm, Dr. A,,louahed Kerrar, , addressed the pharmaceutical sector’s delicate balance between innovation and affordability. “Health has no cost, but it does have a price,” he said. With $120 million invested in new production units, Biopharm is expanding access to quality medicines while maintaining rigorous standards—proving that scale and ethics can coexist.

Across industries from finance and construction to agriculture and healthcare, these leaders are rewriting Africa’s growth narrative. Their stories reflect a continent no longer waiting for change but actively engineering it.

By igniting SMEs and investing in local capacity, Africa’s private sector is stepping boldly into a future built on execution, resilience, and shared prosperity.

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