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Dubai’s DP World, UK’s CDC to invest up to $1.7 billion in Africa
Published by maria gbaf
Posted on October 13, 2021
2 min readLast updated: January 29, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
Company
Published by maria gbaf
Posted on October 13, 2021
2 min readLast updated: January 29, 2026
DP World and CDC Group will invest $1.7 billion in African logistics, starting with port upgrades in Egypt, Senegal, and Somaliland.
By Alexander Cornwell
DUBAI (Reuters) -Dubai ports giant DP World and Britain’s development finance agency CDC Group on Tuesday said they planned to jointly invest up to $1.72 billion in logistics infrastructure in Africa over the next several years, starting with modernising three ports.
The investments will initially focus on expanding ports operated by DP World in Egypt’s Ain Sokhna, Senegal’s Dakar and Berbera in Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland, CDC said.
State-owned DP Word has committed to investing $1 billion over the next several years, while CDC has committed $320 million and potentially investing up to a further $400 million.
The joint investments will eventually be expanded to other regions in Africa, in what DP World and CDC hope will accelerate inbound and outbound trade for the continent.
“We have an aligned vision with DP World in that we wanted to do this across the continent in as many ports as possible,” CDC’s Head of Africa Tenbite Ermias told Reuters.
The partnership plans to invest, along with ports, in infrastructure like container depots and business parks.
CDC will own minority stakes in the three ports, Ermias said, with DP World handing over some shares in each.
The expansion of the three ports would improve access to vital goods for 35 million people, including in neighbouring countries, support 5 million jobs and add $51 billion to total trade by 2035, CDC said.
The partnership between DP World and CDC, who were both already active across Africa, is among a growing list of international and multilateral groups investing in the continent.
In July, the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) approved its first project in sub-Saharan Africa, announcing a $100 million loan to Rwanda.
(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell, Editing by Louise Heavens, Kirsten Donovan and Alexander Smith)
The article discusses DP World and CDC Group's $1.7 billion investment in African logistics infrastructure.
The investment will initially focus on ports in Egypt, Senegal, and Somaliland.
The goal is to enhance trade and logistics infrastructure across Africa.
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