Saudi Arabia’s Vision Invest has completed a landmark $700 million investment in pan-African industrial zone developer ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms, marking one of the largest private infrastructure transactions in Africa to date and the Saudi holding company’s first strategic foray into the continent.
The capital raise, announced Wednesday by Dubai-headquartered ARISE IIP, includes both primary and secondary components and represents a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative to diversify investments globally while supporting sustainable development across emerging markets.
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Vision Invest’s Strategic African Entry
This historic deal marks Vision Invest’s first direct investment in Africa, aligning with the company’s impact investment philosophy centered on socio-economic development. Vision Invest, a leading Saudi Arabian infrastructure investment and development company, operates across vital sectors including energy transition, advanced digital infrastructure, resource recovery, transport and logistics, and health and social infrastructure.
“This marks our first direct investment in Africa and a natural extension of our values and impact investment philosophy, which centres on the socio-economic development of the communities in which we invest,” said Mohammad A. Abunayyan, Chairman of Vision Invest. “We are proud to partner with AFC, FEDA, and Equitane to support economic diversification and local development.”
Omar N. Al-Midani, President and CEO of Vision Invest, emphasized the strategic nature of the partnership: “ARISE IIP represents the ideal platform for Vision Invest’s entry into Africa, combining world-class execution, an institutional shareholder base, and an operating model that focuses on in-country beneficiation. We look forward to building long-term value together.”
ARISE IIP’s Proven Track Record
Founded in 2010, ARISE IIP has established itself as a transformative force in African industrialization, having deployed nearly $2 billion in infrastructure projects across more than 14 African countries. The company has created over 50,000 jobs by driving local value-addition and import substitution, demonstrating the tangible impact of its sustainable development approach.
The company operates operational industrial zones in three key African markets:
Gabon Special Economic Zone (GSEZ): Located 27 kilometers from Libreville, this multi-sectoral industrial park has become West Central Africa’s emerging manufacturing hub. The zone is notably FSC-certified for sustainable timber sourcing and forest management, reflecting ARISE IIP’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) in Benin: Situated 45 kilometers from Cotonou, this integrated industrial platform focuses on local transformation of agricultural products including cotton and cashew nuts. The zone represents a $1.5 billion investment in partnership with the Beninese government.
Adétikopé Industrial Platform (PIA) in Togo: This state-of-the-art industrial park focuses on the local transformation of premium quality cotton for global export, strategically positioned on the Lomé-Burkina industrial corridor to serve the ECOWAS region and landlocked West African countries.
Impressive Portfolio Performance
Based on ARISE IIP’s existing portfolio across these three operational zones, the company has successfully onboarded over 400 companies from 47 industry sectors. These operations span diverse industries including wood processing, glass manufacturing, soya production, cashew processing, cotton processing and textiles, ceramics, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and meat processing.
The economic impact has been substantial, with tenant companies mobilizing over $7 billion within the existing zones, demonstrating the multiplier effect of well-designed industrial infrastructure.
Expanding Across the Continent
The fresh capital injection will accelerate ARISE IIP’s expansion into new African countries, building on its existing presence and supporting the development of what the company terms “green, inclusive, and sustainable industrial ecosystems.” The investment will fund expansion across the continent, with industrial zones under development in Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Rwanda, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Malawi, and Cameroon.
“Our partnership with Vision Invest and the continued support of our shareholders will help us build resilient, self-sustaining industrial ecosystems,” said Gagan Gupta, Founder and CEO of ARISE IIP. “ARISE has always believed in Africa’s promise and the talent driving its growth.”
Institutional Support and International Backing
The transaction underscores strong institutional confidence in ARISE IIP’s business model. The company’s shareholder base comprises founding shareholders Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and Equitane, along with the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), the development impact platform of Afreximbank, and now Vision Invest as the newest shareholder.
The African Development Bank has also demonstrated strong support, approving a $100 million investment in ARISE IIP in May 2025 as part of its industrialization strategic priority and flagship Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) program.
“This investment in ARISE IIP is a signal of the Bank’s commitment to scaling up industrialization in Africa in value chains where we are competitive,” said Dr. Beth Dunford, the African Development Bank’s Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development. “There is economic and social value to be added to African-grown commodities like timber, cashew, cocoa and cotton when they are processed locally instead of being exported in raw form.”
Middle East Investment Wave in Africa
The Saudi investment is part of a broader flurry of Middle Eastern deals into Africa, reflecting growing recognition of the continent’s industrial potential and strategic importance. Gulf states have increasingly viewed Africa as a key destination for diversifying their investment portfolios and supporting sustainable development initiatives that align with their own economic transformation goals.
Vision Invest’s extensive portfolio footprint spans four continents, including Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America, with more than $95 billion in assets under management. This global reach positions the company to bring international best practices and capital to African infrastructure development.
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Transaction Details and Advisory Structure
The complex transaction was expertly managed by leading international financial institutions. Standard Chartered Bank and Norton Rose Fulbright served as exclusive advisors to ARISE IIP, while Vision Invest was advised by EFG Hermes and Linklaters, demonstrating the sophisticated nature of the deal structure.
The transaction’s both primary and secondary components provide ARISE IIP with enhanced financial flexibility to pursue its ambitious expansion plans while offering existing shareholders liquidity options.
Strategic Focus on Value Addition
ARISE IIP’s business model centers on addressing a critical challenge facing African economies: the limited local processing of abundant raw materials. Despite being rich in natural resources, Africa represents only 2% of global manufacturing production, highlighting the significant opportunity for industrial development.
The company’s integrated industrial zones provide developed industrial land, shared infrastructure and utilities, excellent export connectivity, and simplified administrative procedures to agro-industrial tenants. This comprehensive approach allows companies to relocate global supply chains and add value within African countries while contributing to local economic development.
Environmental and Social Impact
Sustainability lies at the heart of ARISE IIP’s operations, with all investment decisions underpinned by strong Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles and ambitious carbon reduction targets. The company is driven by the pursuit of green growth, seeking to unlock Africa’s industrial potential while neutralizing carbon emissions and climate impact.
“ESG will be a key driver of our performance and success,” emphasized Gagan Gupta, reflecting the company’s commitment to implementing certification systems including FSC for sustainable timber sourcing, Cotton Made in Africa (CMiA) certification for cotton sourcing, and OEKO TEX certification for textiles manufacturing.
Future Growth Trajectory
With this capital increase, ARISE IIP is positioned to become an even stronger partner in promoting export manufacturing and industrialization across Africa. The investment aligns with broader continental initiatives aimed at enhancing intra-African trade and regional integration.
“We are pleased to reaffirm our commitment to ARISE IIP by participating in this historic capital raise,” said Marlene Ngoyi, CEO of FEDA. “ARISE IIP exemplifies the kind of platform that drives sustainable growth and regional integration across Africa.”
The transaction also reflects growing confidence in Africa’s industrial potential, particularly in sectors where the continent has competitive advantages in raw material production but has historically exported commodities without local value addition.
Saudi Vision 2030 Global Expansion
This African investment represents a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to diversify the Kingdom’s economy away from oil dependence and establish global investment partnerships. The program seeks foreign investment collaboration in sectors including infrastructure, tourism, entertainment, health and science, technology, and renewable energy.
Saudi Arabia’s growing engagement with Africa demonstrates the Kingdom’s strategic recognition of the continent’s economic potential and the mutual benefits of South-South cooperation in sustainable development.
Economic Impact and Job Creation
The partnership is expected to significantly accelerate job creation across Africa’s industrial sector. ARISE IIP’s existing operations have already generated over 30,000 direct and indirect jobs in Gabon, Togo, and Benin, with a significant impact on youth employment rates in these countries.
With 11 million African youths entering the job market annually, the expansion of industrial zones represents a crucial opportunity to address youth unemployment while building competitive manufacturing capabilities across the continent.
Regional Integration and Trade Enhancement
ARISE IIP’s industrial platforms are strategically designed to enhance Africa’s export competitiveness and intra-African trade. The zones provide crucial infrastructure for regional value chains, enabling local companies to participate more effectively in global supply chains while fostering regional economic integration.
The company’s focus on processing agricultural products locally – including cotton, cashew, timber, and other commodities – directly supports continental trade initiatives and reduces Africa’s dependence on raw commodity exports.
Looking Ahead
This landmark transaction underscores the continued confidence of global and regional institutions in ARISE IIP’s ability to deliver infrastructure that drives industrialization, enhances local value chains, and creates shared prosperity across the continent.
As African governments increasingly prioritize industrialization and value addition, partnerships like this between Middle Eastern capital and African industrial platforms are likely to become more common, reflecting the growing interconnectedness of emerging markets and the shared commitment to sustainable development.
The success of this investment will be closely watched as a model for future cross-regional partnerships in African infrastructure development, potentially paving the way for additional Saudi and Gulf investment in continental industrial transformation initiatives.
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By: Montel Kamau
Serrari Financial Analyst
11th September, 2025
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