DBSA’s Vivekanandan speaks on Africa’s capital allocation

Africa's largest transactional investment marketplace, the Africa Investment Forum, is a platform for traders, leaders, and investors to build economic resilience through sustainable investments. During a recent interview with CNBC Africa, Mohan Vivekanandan, the Group Executive: Origination & Coverage at the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), shed light on the key priorities for the bank at this forum. Amidst a challenging global economic environment, Vivekanandan emphasized the need for African countries to provide compelling stories and opportunities to attract both local and global capital. He highlighted the importance of African institutions deploying capital into critical projects to pave the way for global investment. Vivekanandan expressed optimism about the current momentum in investment on the continent, particularly in sectors like energy, where South Africa has opened up opportunities for private investors, drawing in billions of dollars in new investments. He also discussed the DBSA's focus on sustainable infrastructure, including projects in sectors such as energy, transport, water and sanitation, digitization, healthcare, education, and affordable housing. The bank is actively involved in hydroelectric projects in various African countries and is considering supporting oil and gas transactions with long-term sustainability measures in place. Moreover, Vivekanandan touched upon the significance of funding transport and logistics infrastructure to leverage the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. He highlighted corridor projects in countries like South Africa, Tanzania, and Namibia aimed at enhancing connectivity and efficiency in the movement of goods and services. Overall, Vivekanandan's insights provide a glimpse into the evolving landscape of capital allocation in Africa and the DBSA's strategic focus on driving sustainable investments across the continent.