Africa’s Infrastructure Growth Falling Short of Transformational Targets, Says ASIME Partners CEO
Africa is making strides in infrastructure development, but progress remains insufficient to drive the continent’s economic transformation at scale, according to Sewu-Steve Tawia, CEO and Managing Partner of ASIME Partners.
Speaking at the African Prosperity Dialogues 2025 during a session themed “Exploring Venture Capital and Private Equity Funding Models for Infrastructure”, Tawia underscored the need for a more robust investment framework to accelerate development.
“Africa is making progress in infrastructure development, but not at the scale needed to leapfrog growth,” he noted, calling for enhanced venture capital and private equity (VC/PE) financing to support the creation of a unified investment market.
The session, hosted by ASIME Partners, convened leading figures in Africa’s investment space, including Abi Mustapha-Maduakor (CEO, AVCA), Jerry Parkes (Managing Director, Injaro Advisors), and Tshepiso Kobile (SAVCA), alongside representatives from the World Bank and IFC.
Discussions centered on key structural barriers, including regulatory inefficiencies, limited access to capital, and talent shortages within Africa’s VC/PE sector. Panelists also explored the role of technology in enhancing due diligence, broadening market access, and fostering a more sustainable investment ecosystem.
With Africa seeking to position itself as a competitive player in the global investment landscape, industry leaders stressed the urgency of policy reforms, improved investor confidence, and the promotion of responsible investment practices to unlock long-term capital flows.
