Our Research

Lagos Free Zone emerges as an economic lifeline for Nigeria

The iconic industrial zone run by a Singapore-based conglomerate Tolaram remains a beacon for investors in Nigeria even as manufacturing suffers

Published on 27 Mar 2024

Universal Basic Income as an instrument to end extreme poverty in Africa

Theory and practice of free money

Published on 26 Feb 2024

Africa in the age of re-globalisation

Three recommendations on how the continent can succeed in a new economy

Published on 26 Jan 2024

Is a new chapter in China Africa relations on the horizon?

As Beijing scales back on large projects its relationship with Africa changes

Published on 22 Jan 2024

The year in review

2023 was a high point for the NTU-SBF Centre for African Studies

Published on 18 Dec 2023

Can Singapore unlock finance for Africa through carbon credit?

African need for finance and Singapore desire to decarbonise makes for a promising partnership

Published on 20 Nov 2023

Made in Rwanda

A small landlocked republic taps its rich art, culture, and traditional produce to build a stronger national identity and economy

Published on 14 Nov 2023

FDI in Africa goes green as investment outlook turns dim

Renewable energy potential remains a bright spot even as foreign investments shrinks

Published on 31 Oct 2023

Returnees make up for lost time by remaking Rwanda

A final year journalism student discovers how those who fled the country years ago are now returning to rebuild it

Published on 31 Oct 2023

Inflation shock hits Africa

How to protect the most vulnerable from rising fuel and food costs

Published on 05 Oct 2023

Can Singapore unlock Africa’s green hydrogen potential?

The acquisition of ENEO by a British energy firm investing in Mauritania is a good start

Published on 15 Sep 2023

The state of African space industry

After India lands a craft on the moon could African space ambitions take flight?

Published on 05 Sep 2023

Enterprise focus will be key to African 5G success

Chinese hardware to remain bedrock of African telecom infrastructure

Published on 28 Aug 2023

Goal Africa

A case for sports as an engine for economic development and tool of diplomacy

Published on 24 Jul 2023

How far has AfCFTA come to meet its true potential?

An assessment of the most ambitious single market experiment

Published on 21 Jun 2023

Sub-Saharan Africa to post 4.2% growth in 2024

Senegal set to become one of the fastest growing economies in the world

Published on 29 May 2023

Attracting Africa’s wealthiest and the risk that comes with it

Why Singapore could see a rise in the arrival of high-net worth individuals from the continent

Published on 20 Apr 2023

The growing pains of e-commerce business in Africa

High cost of logistics is making it difficult for online platforms to survive

Published on 28 Mar 2023

Japanese investor doubles down on the African healthcare market

Susumu Tsubaki, CEO of the Singapore-based Japanese investment firm AAIC explains why he is betting on healthcare start-ups in Africa

Published on 23 Feb 2023
man stock trader holding mobile phone against laptop monitor

What is the AELP and why it matters?

The African Exchanges Linkage Project will allow investors to trade in African stocks on a single platform and in doing so make the African capital markets vibrant as never before

Published on 19 Jan 2023
Stock market charts

The outlook for FDI in Africa

Africa remains an attractive investment destination in the long run even if prospects in the short-run look dim

Published on 18 Dec 2022
earth protection and sustainable ecology development concept

The case for Ecological Reparations in Africa

Models of alternative development, circular economy or just transition are insufficient to address the damage caused by imperialism

Published on 14 Dec 2022

Three proposals that should have been adopted at COP27

The transition to net zero will need bold steps

Published on 11 Nov 2022

Powering Africa for job creation

Why Africa needs to scale-up investments in the energy sector

Published on 14 Oct 2022

Kenya steps on the highway to economic success

Evaluating the growth of transport, health, ICT, and housing sectors

Published on 20 Sep 2022

Where is Africa in the cloud?

African data is stored on data centres outside the continent but that may be about to change

Published on 15 Sep 2022

Turbulence ahead for African Airlines

Despite the tumult, Africa remains an attractive aviation investment destination

Published on 22 Aug 2022

African superfoods garnering international attention

As health awareness grows so does the demand for fonio, teff, and other traditional grains

Published on 10 Aug 2022

Taking risks, addressing need, and diversifying business

How Tolaram broke new ground in Nigeria

Published on 15 Jul 2022

Understanding African urban economies

The role of cities in mobilising capital, labour, and land for growth

Published on 04 Jul 2022

The role of EXIM bank in promoting trade and investments in Africa

A case for Singapore to establish one

Published on 21 Jun 2022
scientist sampling blood in test tubes while working on research in laboratory

The economic potential of African genomics

Making a case for the replication of the Singapore model in Africa

Published on 10 May 2022

Development of smart ports in Africa

An opportunity for Singapore to step in

Published on 21 Apr 2022

The ICT boom in Kenya

A fertile ground for Asian investments

Published on 11 Apr 2022

Africa walks a tightrope

Economic implications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Published on 23 Mar 2022

Africa wakes up to the potential of artificial intelligence

How Singapore can stake a claim and take advantage of untapped opportunities

Published on 15 Feb 2022

Africa’s renewable energy future

Lessons from Asia and opportunities in Africa

Published on 10 Feb 2022

Debt dynamics and debt relief in Africa

Making finance work for Africa

Published on 07 Feb 2022

Wealth and want

How the unequal ownership of land perpetuates social stratification and threatens the future of South Africa

Published on 06 Jan 2022

South Africa is trying to get rid of its coal addiction

Coal has a hold on the power sector, but for not much longer

Published on 27 Dec 2021

Egypt emerges as a top FDI destination

Time for investors to take fresh look at a market that lies at the cross-roads of international trade

Published on 06 Dec 2021

Financing economic growth

The banking sector and its contribution to microeconomic stability in Kenya

Published on 03 Dec 2021

Can FinTech meet the financing needs of African SMEs?

African SMEs find it difficult to get credit, but not for long.

Published on 17 Nov 2021

The challenges and opportunities of bridging Africa’s digital divide

Africa is a fraction of the global ICT market but has much more room to grow.

Published on 12 Nov 2021

The new economic imperatives of African railways

After decades of neglect railways is starting to get the attention it deserves.

Published on 21 Oct 2021

Kenya emerges as a formidable financial centre of Africa

What makes Nairobi the most vibrant capital market in East Africa and how can foreign investors participate in it?

Published on 18 Oct 2021

Africa uncovers the potential of its purple economy

The continent starts to tap on its cultural capital for jobs and growth.

Published on 20 Sep 2021
Close-up image of mechanic wearing protective gloves when using multimeter for testing automobile battery

Electric Vehicles: Africa’s battery minerals and GVC opportunities

African countries are not yet significant participants in the global value chain (GVC) of electric vehicles (EVs).

Published on 13 Aug 2021

Africa’s water challenge

Despite its natural resource abundance, Africa is one of the driest continents on the planet, with nearly half its landmass considered dry and more than a third classified as hyper-arid or desert.

Published on 28 Jul 2021
Bitcoins and dollar bills

Can blockchain and cryptocurrencies facilitate African trade?

Lack of hard currency, fraud and high transaction costs have impeded the continent’s international trade. But now blockchain technology is helping African business overcome those barriers.

Published on 16 Jul 2021
Coffee beans being roasted.

Will Africa benefit from another commodity supercycle?

The United Nations defines a ‘supercycle’ as a decades-long, above-trend movement in a wide range of base material prices generated by shifting demand.

Published on 07 Jun 2021
businessman making pyramid shape of wooden dices with dollar sign on them.

Unlocking Africa’s capital markets

Capital market access is key to economic and industrial growth, making countries less dependent on donor aid and loans from foreign governments to finance investment and expenditure.

Published on 07 Jun 2021

Electric vehicles: An ironic African opportunity?

Rising sales of fossil-fuel cars add to the air and noise pollution that now approaches dangerous levels in many of Africa’s overpopulated cities.

Published on 14 Apr 2021
Oil refinery in the distance

Does industrialisation matter to the well-being of Africans?

Industrialisation has re-appeared on the African development policy agenda.

Published on 19 Mar 2021
Renewable energy generation

Greening and Cleaning Africa's energy sources: Supporting the roll-out of Africa's energy infrastructure in the 21st century

The global COVID pandemic shows few signs of abating.

Published on 16 Feb 2021
Business executives using digital tablets

Digitalising trade in Africa: A new way of doing business

The emerging global trend to digitise documents presents an opportunity to increase the African continent’s engagement in international trade.

Published on 30 Sep 2020

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