AGP Executive Report

Humanitarian Crisis at Musina: Fear and hunger grip South Africa’s Musina border as thousands of undocumented migrants board buses home, with a fast-built repatriation centre at Musina Proefplaas struggling to meet basic needs. Rural Jobs via Restoration: Kenya’s forest restoration push is turning nature recovery into an SME-and-jobs engine, from seedling production and agroforestry to eco-tourism and beekeeping. Ethiopia’s Trade & Tourism Boost: Ethiopia reports record coffee export earnings and a renewed push to develop tourism as a growth pillar, alongside preparations for inclusive national dialogue. SME Finance Gets Smarter in SA: Bridgement secures R330m to reshape SME lending, using AI to assess operational data and speed up funding decisions. Digital Payments & Compliance for SMEs: UIF Connect guides South Africans through UIF claims; Vision Verification helps firms stay B-BBEE compliant; and Yoco rolls out AI tools for merchants using their own sales data. Skills for Youth in Nigeria: FG launches phase 2 of its TVET programme with practical training, stipends and job pathways. Trade & Logistics Lift: Kenya’s ProCharter adds four Nairobi cargo corridors to improve East Africa market access. AI Governance Push: Rwanda’s Kagame co-chairs an AI for Good commission, urging Africa to enter global AI talks with clear roadmaps.

SME Credit Shift: Optasia says it’s moving beyond consumer lending with a new merchant lending proposition, aiming to close the MSME credit gap as fintechs pivot to productive finance. Digital Compliance for Growth: Advintek wins UAE Federal Tax Authority approval as an e-invoicing service provider ahead of the 2027 mandate, signaling how compliance tech is becoming a business enabler. Tax Relief for Businesses: Kenya opens a six-month KRA tax amnesty (penalties, interest and fines waived for eligible debts up to Dec 31, 2025), giving SMEs breathing room to formalise and reset liabilities. SME Funding Boost: MTN Ghana backs five SME pitch winners with GH¢30,000 each plus a mini-MBA and digital tools, pushing founders from ideas to execution. Trade & Logistics for Local Firms: ProCharter launches four Nairobi cargo corridors to speed time-sensitive and e-commerce shipments, improving market access for East African traders. Policy & Governance Pressure: Nigeria’s Atiku raises alarm over alleged ₦8.8trn off-budget spending, keeping fiscal transparency in the spotlight for business confidence. Infrastructure for Enterprise: Chery inaugurates its Rosslyn plant in South Africa, a manufacturing step that could deepen local supply chains and jobs.

SME Finance & Growth: Kenya’s Nairobi International Finance Centre says Finance Act 2025 reforms are paying off, admitting 15 new certified firms with Sh25.8bn in commitments and 1,000+ jobs. Trade & Logistics: ProCharter Aviation launched four new Nairobi cargo corridors to improve East Africa connectivity for time-sensitive goods and e-commerce. Manufacturing Jobs: Chery Auto inaugurated its revitalised Rosslyn plant in South Africa, keeping 692 employees and targeting nearly 3,000 jobs as it shifts from importing to local manufacturing. Digital Payments Pain Point: A Nigeria explainer shows how failed POS/ATM transactions can debit customers first, leaving SMEs and households to absorb the cost until reversals land. SME Support Programs: MTN Ghana awarded GH¢30,000 each to five SME pitch winners and added Mini MBA training plus digital tools. Creative & Leather Markets: UNDP and Lagos State backed fashion and leather MSMEs with matchmaking and market access to help entrepreneurs scale beyond local buyers. Business Regulation Watch: South Africa’s Competition Commission will probe the franchise sector over dominance concerns that may squeeze franchisees and slow transformation. Energy for Enterprise: Malawi’s Press Corporation plans a 50MW solar push to ease power constraints holding back small businesses and manufacturing. Local Economy Boost: Durban July is expected to inject over R245m into KZN and spur township-linked tourism and trade. Policy/People Impact: South Africa’s anti-immigration protests are already costing SMMEs lost trading days and uncertainty.

SME Growth Playbook: Nigerian SMEs are upbeat for the year ahead, with 81% confident and 68% expecting revenue growth, as Mastercard flags digital and online payments as the key scaling lever. Digital Payments Push: Visa is rolling out smartphone-based payment tools for small merchants, turning phones into payment terminals and enabling real-time payouts without extra hardware. Banking Strategy Shift: Malawi’s NBS Bank scraps its SME banking model for a broader Business Banking strategy aimed at backing enterprises through their growth journey. SME Funding Impact: Nigeria’s Bank of Industry says it disbursed N644.9bn in 2025, supporting 1.68m jobs, with a big share going to MSMEs and women/youth-led businesses. SME Pitch Wins: MTN Ghana awards GH¢30,000 each to five SME winners, plus mini-MBA training and digital tools. Competition Watch: South Africa’s Competition Commission is probing franchising for dominance abuse that could be blocking transformation for smaller operators. Trade & Tourism for Jobs: Angola launches AgroCorridors to boost farming productivity and rural incomes, while South Africa’s tourism sector adds new lodges and conference centres to spur local business demand. Local Networking: Nairobi’s BNI expo plans to connect entrepreneurs with customers, investors and partners as credit tightens. Migration Pressure on Business: South Africa’s anti-immigration crackdown is already hitting shops and livelihoods, raising the stakes for local enterprise resilience.

SME Confidence & Digital Payments: Mastercard’s SME Confidence Index reports 81% of Nigerian SMEs are confident about the year ahead, with 68% expecting revenue growth and 100% saying digital/online payments are key to scaling. SMME Support via Franchising: South Africa’s FASA and Township Entrepreneurs Agency (TEA) sign an MOU to launch a national SMME Support Programme, using the franchise model to reach entrepreneurs across all nine provinces. Insurance & Resilience: PSG Insure warns weather-driven shocks are reshaping short-term insurance risk in 2026, while motor remains the biggest claims volume—pushing insurers to rethink pricing and preparedness. Clean Cooking Push: Nigeria’s government inaugurates a National E-Cooking Steering Committee and says the policy framework is ready to speed adoption of e-cooking technologies. Jobs & Enterprise Finance: Nigeria’s Bank of Industry says it disbursed N645bn in 2025, backing 12,501 businesses and 1,615 start-ups and creating 1.68m jobs. Disaster Hits MSMEs: Ghana’s Accra floods again are described as an existential threat to MSMEs, with businesses losing stock and facing slow recovery. AI for Home Services: Santam-owned Kandua launches “Jess,” an AI home companion that helps homeowners diagnose issues and book vetted service providers. Crypto Trading Demand: Nigeria’s Stockhut is positioned as a growing choice for crypto trading as more users rely on digital assets for transfers and survival.

Energy & Expansion: Vivo Energy completes its buyout of TotalEnergies Marketing Jordan, taking ownership of 180 stations and paving the way to roll out Engen in Jordan—an Africa-to-Middle East growth signal for downstream players. SME Finance Gap: Nigeria’s Credit Landscape Report 2025 shows only ~6% of adults access formal credit, even as financial inclusion rises—highlighting why working-capital solutions remain urgent for small businesses. Trade Facilitation: AfCFTA Secretariat and Nigeria Customs sign an MoU to connect customs systems and speed up border clearance, aiming to cut delays and the cost of doing business across countries. Off-Grid Power for Business: Nigeria completes 23 solar mini-grid projects powering about 50,000 people, with electricity expected to support households, schools, health facilities and agricultural processing. Entrepreneurship & Markets: GEN Nigeria selects three startups to represent the country at GEC+ Africa in Cape Town, backed by the Bank of Industry, to link founders with investors and regional opportunities. Digital Payments for Merchants: Visa unveils smartphone-based payment capabilities for small sellers, pushing a simpler way to accept payments and manage payouts. Skills for Growth: SMEDAN kicks off MSME cluster training in Kano to boost productivity and help firms compete under AfCFTA.

Zimbabwe–China Labour Compliance: Zimbabwe urged Chinese investors to follow local labour laws and join social dialogue as Chinese investment tops US$10bn. Port-Led Local Growth: Tanzania’s Zanzibar Fumba Port project is already improving water access, jobs and small business activity for nearby communities. Banking Leadership: First National Bank Ghana formally welcomed Sylvia Inkoom as CEO, pledging deeper reach into urban/peri-urban SMEs and more tech-enabled services. Payments for Micro-Merchants: Visa is rolling out capabilities so micro-sellers can accept card payments via smartphones and make real-time payouts. South Africa Xenophobia Fallout: Anti-immigration protests have triggered business attacks, looting and fear for migrant-owned shops, with police and foreign missions disputing specific claims. Franchise Competition Probe: South Africa’s Competition Commission will investigate whether franchise rules and costs block new entrants and harm transformation. SME Capacity in Nigeria: SMEDAN trained Kano MSMEs in clusters to boost productivity and market access. Digital Trade Push: Nigeria’s Tinubu backed AfCFTA digital trade execution to cut barriers and connect markets. Ethiopia Tourism Boost: Ethiopia reported 1.4m foreign visitors and $5.2bn in tourism foreign exchange revenue.

AfCFTA Digital Trade Push (Nigeria): Nigeria’s trade and AfCFTA officials urged faster cross-border trade in digitally delivered services, noting only 5% is currently traded within Africa—an “untapped opportunity” for SMEs to reach new markets. SME Payments Drive (Zimbabwe): Zimbabwe’s central bank urged SMEs to use digital payments to cut costs, boost inclusion and productivity, pointing to mobile money’s role in scaling business growth. Banking Expansion (Cameroon): Coris Bank incorporated Coris Bank International Cameroun as it prepares for market entry, aiming to offer full commercial banking and plan Islamic banking pending regulators’ approvals. SME Sustainability Tools (Nigeria): NECA launched an ESG implementation guide for MSMEs with ILO support, pushing businesses to prepare for ESG reporting becoming mandatory by 2030. Ghana Jobs & Trade Fair (Ghana): Labour and GACTI partner to run AFROMART 2026, targeting 10,000 job placements and a 72-hour trade/SME marketplace with large employer and exhibitor participation. Tourism Goes AI (South Africa): South African tourism operators are rethinking marketing as travellers increasingly use AI to plan and book trips. Local Business Readiness (South Africa): Afrisupply urged spill-response checks for winter, warning that colder conditions can worsen operational risks.

MSME Digital Push (Ghana): MTN Ghana partnered with the Ghana Enterprises Agency to mark World MSME Day and launch an MSME Digital Gateway Platform, backing tools like SME clinics and webinars to help small firms grow online. ESG for SMEs (Nigeria): NECA, with the ILO, unveiled Nigeria’s first ESG Implementation Guide for MSMEs, urging businesses to start preparing now as ESG reporting is expected to tighten by 2030. Banking Expansion (Côte d’Ivoire): Abidjan’s banking race heats up as Zenith moves into Francophone West Africa and Mauritius Commercial Bank plans new operations, signaling more competition for trade- and investment-driven growth. Trade & Digital Integration (Nigeria): President Tinubu used the AfCFTA Digital Trade Forum to push faster intra-African commerce via digital integration and border reforms. SME Finance Policy (Kenya): Kenya’s Revised MSMEs Policy 2026 puts access to credit at the center, citing a KSh3 trillion financing gap and pushing banks to lend more. Digital Payments (Zimbabwe): RBZ urged SMEs to adopt digital payments to cut costs, improve inclusion, and strengthen growth. SME Market Access (Nigeria): Ecobank’s Adire Lagos Experience continued to connect local makers with customers, partners and new sales channels. Road Disruption (South Africa): SANRAL began the R6bn N3 upgrade, warning of major traffic delays and calling for planning around construction impacts. Cybersecurity (South Africa): Sophos set up a local South Africa legal entity to improve support, procurement and cyber resilience for regional businesses.

Youth Entrepreneurship Push (South Africa): Free State’s Small Business Development Minister Stella Tembisa Ndabeni used Youth Day events to spotlight the Peo Pele Youth Fund and practical enterprise support, arguing economic freedom must reach townships and informal areas. MSME Sustainability (Nigeria): NECA and the ILO launched Nigeria’s first ESG implementation guide for MSMEs, aiming to help smaller firms compete as investors and markets demand responsible business practices. Digital Payments for SMBs (Africa): Visa unveiled new smartphone-based payment capabilities (Visa Accept/Direct) to help micro and small sellers accept and send digital payments without extra hardware. Cyber Risk for SMBs: GlobalData reports cyberattacks hit 34.7% of SMEs globally, but only 16.8% carry standalone cyber insurance—leaving many exposed. Trade & Cost Pressure (South Africa): South Africa’s trade balance slipped into deficit in May as oil import costs rose amid Middle East conflict, raising pressure on the rand and growth. SME Finance & Credit (Namibia): Africa Bitcoin Corporation’s Altvest Credit Opportunities Fund expanded SME lending, lifting credit exposure and deployments. Capital for Growth (Nigeria): EU development financiers announced a €20m Nigeria Country Window and signalled more funding across infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, renewables and small business support. Tourism as an Economic Pillar (Ethiopia): Ethiopia designated tourism a core economic pillar to drive jobs, investment and long-term transformation beyond agriculture. Local Business Under Pressure (South Africa): Anti-foreign spaza shop protests in areas like Daveyton and Soweto are disrupting local trade as residents demand undocumented operators leave.

SME Credit Boost (Namibia): Africa Bitcoin’s Altvest Credit Opportunities Fund (ACOF) says it expanded SME lending, lifting credit exposure to N$363m (from N$267m) and growing AUM to N$512m as it deploys funds into qualifying borrowers. Business Headwinds (Nigeria): NECA warns that energy costs, inflation, exchange-rate swings, and multiple taxation are still undermining enterprise growth despite reforms. Anti-immigrant Protests Disrupt Trade (South Africa): Police moved in ahead of June 30 xenophobic protests; thousands of foreign nationals rushed to leave, while shops and malls shut in places like Howick’s Mpophomeni. Policy Pressure on Employers (South Africa): A proposed employment bill would raise fines on employers hiring undocumented workers, adding compliance costs for businesses. Regulatory Cost Concerns (South Africa): Parliament advances stricter tobacco and vaping rules, with small businesses worried about restructuring costs. Cybersecurity for SMEs (Africa): Mastercard launched an Africa Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, starting with South Africa and Nigeria, to strengthen threat sharing and resilience. SME-Friendly Payments (UAE): American Express expands acceptance for SME merchants via Network International, adding tens of thousands of locations. Digital Workforce Tools (Africa): Radiant diGiLog rolled out its AI productivity platform across Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and more.

Nigeria Business Pressure: NECA says energy costs, inflation and multiple taxes are still undermining enterprise growth even after reforms, urging a real impact review on MSMEs. SME Formalisation Push (Nigeria): FG approved free CAC registration for 250,000 MSMEs to cut a key barrier to formalisation and boost financial inclusion, with training support. AfCFTA Gender Inclusion: UNDP and Nigeria/FG warn women’s exclusion could put $3.4trn at risk in the AfCFTA single market, calling for urgent removal of financial and border barriers. South Africa Migration Tensions Hit Trade: As 30 June anti-foreigner protests near, communities report shop closures, lost bookings and safety fears for informal traders and spaza owners. Insurance Awareness (East Africa): Coverage remains low across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, with experts urging businesses and households to shift from “after-crisis” thinking to risk protection. Zimbabwe Trade Opportunity: Government urges industry to seize China’s new zero-tariff access to accelerate industrial growth and competitiveness. Digital Trade (North Africa): ECA highlights priorities for AfCFTA digital trade: infrastructure, skills, inclusion and SME-friendly platforms. Tanzania–Afreximbank Partnership: Tanzania calls Afreximbank a key partner, seeking more financing to back manufacturing, infrastructure and SMEs. Blue Economy Capital Mobilisation: UNFCCC-backed OceanHub Africa and partners advance a global initiative to mobilise blended capital for coastal businesses. Customer Safety & Youth Entrepreneurship (SA): Services SETA graduates 69 entrepreneurs from a learnership aimed at tackling youth unemployment through practical business skills.

Tax Survival Guide: SARS is urging South Africans to get serious about tax literacy, warning many overpay because they don’t understand the progressive system and how to legally reduce liability. June 30 Business Shock in SA: Durban foreign traders and Johannesburg CBD street vendors are closing or staying shut ahead of anti-migrant protests, while Parliament warns informal traders and small operators to avoid violence and intimidation. Policy for MSMEs (Nigeria): Nigeria approved free CAC registration for 250,000 MSMEs to cut formalisation costs and boost financial inclusion, alongside SMEDAN support for growth. AfCFTA Momentum (Angola/Ghana): Angola validated its AfCFTA strategy and action plan to unlock market access, while Ghana’s role as AfCFTA Secretariat host is framed as turning integration into guided trade deals. SME Delivery vs Policy (South Africa): The Small Business Institute says GNU has stabilised, but delivery for SMMEs remains the unresolved test. Power for Growth (World Bank): The World Bank backs a West Africa electrification push in Togo and The Gambia aimed at connecting about 1 million people and enabling small business activity. Payments & Fintech: Vidaripay launches cross-border payments for freelancers and small businesses, while FirstBank backs Imo State’s group-based ÓKÓBÌ entrepreneurship model. SME Ops Tools: Digital signing for SMEs is pitched as a way to cut paperwork delays, and labour-law compliance is flagged as a common “quiet cost” as firms grow.

MSME Finance Shift in Kenya: Ugandan fintech Numida’s COO Lorraine Mutambiranwa says Kenya’s digital lending must move beyond fast loans to smarter, long-term growth capital for MSMEs. Local Revolving Fund Boost for Mombasa Riders: Mombasa County approved a Sh200m zero-interest revolving fund for boda boda and tuk-tuk operators, with rollout expected next month. Nigeria Skills Push for MSMEs: SMEDAN secured a $12m South Korean commitment to set up an Abuja Skills Acquisition Centre, pending land allocation, to train youth and strengthen small businesses. Trade Finance Still Blocks Small Firms: Afreximbank flags a $74bn Africa trade finance gap in 2025, with small firms hit hardest for lack of collateral and records. AfCFTA Needs SME Scaling: A new AfCFTA reflection stresses that cross-border SME growth and trade finance are the real test for the single market. South Africa June 30 Tensions Hit Town Tourism: Businesses in townships report cancellations and revenue drops as immigration protests approach. Digital Payments for SMEs: Nigeria’s Paystack launches an AI agent checkout “Index,” enabling payments via popular AI tools. Credit Market Reality Check: IFC notes digital lending has widened access, but a major credit gap remains for small firms, especially where formal records are missing.

Anti-immigration pressure on local trade: In Soweto, street vendors joined marches against undocumented migrants, with hawkers saying permits are limited while unregistered traders crowd the same spaces—raising fears for small-business survival and local livelihoods. Township tourism hit by June 30 unrest: South African township tour operators report sharp booking cancellations and revenue drops as visitor confidence falls ahead of planned protests, threatening a fragile post-pandemic recovery. Trade finance still blocks SMEs: Afreximbank puts Africa’s trade finance gap at about $74bn (2025), with small firms hardest hit due to collateral and credit-history barriers. Smartphone affordability push in Nigeria: Nigeria’s NCC is seeking presidential incentives for investors to set up local smartphone factories and back instalment schemes to cut device prices and expand digital access. SME credit, but the gap persists: IFC says digital lending has widened access, yet a roughly $330bn Sub-Saharan shortfall remains, with regulators tightening rules as costs and over-indebtedness rise. Payments innovation spreads: SQRIL expands stablecoin-to-QR payments into Central Asia, pitching lower fees and better merchant availability for emerging markets. Localisation “policy vs procurement” fight: South African furniture makers warn buy-local plans are undermined by procurement gaps, uneven compliance, and non-compliant imports. Migration permits tightening in SA: South Africa reports 42,000+ foreign nationals applied to register businesses as authorities move to regulate informal traders ahead of protests.

SME Finance & Payments: NMB Bank and Mastercard launched the NMB SME World Business Credit Card in Tanzania, offering up to Sh50m credit with up to 53 interest-free days to help SMEs smooth cash flow and fund stock and daily operations. Local Manufacturing Push: Nigeria’s NCC chair Idris Olorunnimbe pledged to seek presidential incentives and waivers to attract smartphone manufacturers to build factories in-country before November, aiming to cut device prices and boost jobs. SME Policy & Registration: South Africa’s migration crackdown is driving faster business registration: over 42,000 foreign nationals have applied to register businesses, while government pushes legal permits for informal traders. Procurement Reality Check: South Africa’s furniture makers warn that “localisation” policy is undermined by procurement gaps, uneven compliance, and non-compliant imports—turning promises into lost opportunities. Enterprise Support: Zimbabwe reaffirmed its commitment to an enabling environment for MSMEs, while officials trained entrepreneurship coaches under an ILO/AfDB-backed youth and women employability programme. Trade & Logistics Reform: Ethiopia opened its logistics sector to full foreign ownership, removing the 49% cap to attract investment and improve supply chains. Governance & Business Climate: South Africa’s municipal performance remains under scrutiny ahead of elections, with Auditor-General feedback highlighting both progress and persistent reporting and statistics verification problems.