AfDB Commits $100M to ARISE IIP to Scale Africa’s Industrial Zones

17^th Jun 2025

TL;DR

The African Development Bank (AfDB) invests $100 million in ARISE IIP.
Funding will support industrial zone development in Benin, Togo, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, and Rwanda.
Focus on manufacturing, value-added exports, and infrastructure-driven growth.
Aims to boost local job creation, reduce reliance on raw commodity exports, and attract FDI.
Strong signal to global investors about Africa’s rising industrial potential.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $100 million equity investment into ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP) — a leading pan-African infrastructure developer specializing in industrial zones and special economic zones (SEZs).

This funding is intended to expand and operationalize ARISE IIP’s existing and upcoming industrial zones across West and Central Africa, notably in Benin (Glo-Djigbe Industrial Zone, GDIZ), Gabon (Gabon Special Economic Zone, GSEZ), Togo (Plateform Industrial Adetikope, PIA), Côte d’Ivoire (Industrial Platform Remo Free Zone, IPR), and Rwanda (Bugesera Special Economic Zone, BSEZ).

ARISE IIP's zones focus on agro-processing, timber, textiles, and mineral value chains, helping African countries move up the value ladder by enabling localized processing and reducing export dependency on raw materials.

With logistics integration, power infrastructure, and sustainability design baked into its development model, ARISE IIP provides a turnkey platform for manufacturers and exporters, while supporting broader national industrial policies.

What This Means for Investors

Risk-Reduced Market Entry: With infrastructure and policy support already in place, investors can plug into SEZs with lower setup costs and faster timelines.
Public-Private Synergy: ARISE IIP collaborates with national governments, offering incentives, policy support, and long-term operational stability.
Sustainable and Scalable: The zones follow ESG standards, making them attractive for green investors, ESG funds, and development-oriented capital.
Export-Ready Ecosystems: Zones are strategically located with integrated logistics for seamless intra-Africa and global exports, aligning with AfCFTA priorities.
Sector Diversity: Ideal for businesses in light manufacturing, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, and value-added industrial supply chains.

Investor Insight

This $100 million investment from AfDB is not just a financial boost — it’s a strategic endorsement of the industrial zones model as a growth engine for Africa.

For global investors, it’s a compelling signal that:

Africa is serious about industrial transformation
Strategic platforms like ARISE IIP can de-risk expansion
Now is the time to explore manufacturing, supply chain, and infrastructure projects across these industrial zones

Africa’s next growth story is being built — factory by factory, zone by zone.
Be early. Be bold. Be inside.