Business
Nigeria missing among top four African economies sustaining industrialisation – Report
The RED Index identifies that Morocco, Egypt, South Africa and Mauritius emerge as the only economies with the alignment required to sustain industrial growth.
Image credit : BCAfrica.
The Business Council for Africa (BCA) has released its 2025 RED Index of Industrial Development in Africa.
In the report, only four African economies are structurally positioned to sustain high-growth industrialisation.
The RED Index identifies that Morocco, Egypt, South Africa and Mauritius emerge as the only economies with the alignment required to sustain industrial growth, while Rwanda and Nigeria show meaningful progress but remain incomplete in their trajectory.
The report further indicated that the majority of African economies are classified as either vulnerable or stalled.
The Index evaluates each economy across three decisive dimensions: Engines of Industrialisation, representing foundational capabilities; Accelerators, determining the pace of transformation; and Decelerators, the structural constraints that can stall or reverse progress.
Commenting on the report, Chairman of the Business Council for Africa, Arnold Ekpe said:“This is not just an index. It is a call to action for African policymakers, investors, and businesses to take ownership of Africa’s industrial future and commit to the structural changes required to deliver sustained growth.
”As global capital seeks scalable and resilient growth opportunities, the RED Index provides a lens for identifying where industrialisation is viable, where structural risks remain elevated and where targeted intervention can unlock long-term.”
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Business
WEF could appoint Lagarde as its next chair, sources say
The WEF’s Board of Trustees, which includes Lagarde herself, was due to meet on November 2 and could elect her as its next chair, said the people close to the organisation, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
•European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde
The World Economic Forum could appoint Christine Lagarde as its next chair as soon as next month, four people close to the organisation told Reuters, meaning she would step down early as European Central Bank chief and trigger a wider reshuffle at the top of the ECB.Lagarde’s ECB term is scheduled to end in October 2027.
Leaving early would give European Union leaders a chance to pick a new ECB President before France’s spring presidential election, which opinion polls suggest the far-right could win, and could pave the way for a deal involving two other senior ECB roles.
The WEF’s Board of Trustees, which includes Lagarde herself, was due to meet on November 2 and could elect her as its next chair, said the people close to the organisation, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
No final decision has been taken yet, they said.
A spokesperson for the WEF said the forum could not confirm when the next full Board of Trustees meeting would take place, but that the aim was to hold one before the end of the year.
Business
Germany plans tax on sugary drinks
The tax is expected to generate additional revenue for the federal government of €690 million in 2027 and €925 million in 2028.
The German cabinet has approved draft legislation to tax sugary drinks in Europe’s biggest economy.
If passed by the German Bundestag, the tax will take effect on 1 July 2027.
The coalition aims to raise revenue for the federal budget while encouraging manufacturers to reduce sugar content and offer healthier products.
The levy is intended to ease pressure on the healthcare system, which faces costs of more than €2 billion every year linked to the high consumption of sugary drinks, which contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.
According to the federal government, Berlin is using the tax to implement “what associations from the fields of health, science, child protection, and consumer protection have long been demanding.”
The tax is expected to generate additional revenue for the federal government of €690 million in 2027 and €925 million in 2028.
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