Ivorian Prime Minister Robert Mambé and African Development Bank Group President Sidi Ould Tah have urged Africa’s private sector to take centre stage in the continent’s economic transformation, stressing that the current global trade disruptions present an opportunity rather than a threat.

The two leaders were speaking on Monday at the opening of the 13^th edition of the CGECI Academy, the flagship annual forum of Côte d’Ivoire’s employers federation, held under the theme “Economic sovereignty: Time for Action.” The two-day event drew senior government officials, business leaders, and representatives of regional employers’ organisations.

Prime Minister Mambé underscored the urgency of moving beyond analysis to action. “The time for self-analysis is over; it’s now time for action!” he reiterated. “We must become aware of our strengths, our weaknesses and our untapped potential, and most importantly, we must establish a synthesis that consolidates our achievements for new prospects that are based on intelligent and dynamic partnerships.”

He stressed that economic sovereignty requires coordinated effort from government, private investors, young entrepreneurs, and consumers.

Dr Ould Tah echoed this call, telling the gathering that Africa must turn the current global trade tensions into a “historic opportunity” to strengthen regional value chains and process more of its abundant raw materials locally.

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“For Africa, this is not a threat; it is a historic opportunity to establish a stronger, more integrated and more resilient local economy,” the Bank President said.

Dr Ould Tah, who assumed office on September 1, outlined his four-pillar strategy for Africa’s development: mobilising large-scale capital, reforming Africa’s financial architecture, accelerating the creation of quality jobs, and building climate-resilient infrastructure with green industrialisation.

He emphasised that structural economic transformation cannot be achieved by governments alone. “They will also come from the African private sector, which must be central to the strategy,” the Bank president said, calling on entrepreneurs to innovate and become major players in global markets.

The gathering comes as multilateral trade frameworks face mounting pressure from protectionist policies and geopolitical tensions. African leaders see the moment as critical for the continent to strengthen intra-African commerce and reduce dependence on external markets.

Ahmed Cissé, president of CGECI, pledged the private sector’s support for continental efforts to restore economic and financial sovereignty through institutional partnerships, including “working closely” with the African Development Bank.

The CGECI, which represents nearly 80 percent of Côte d’Ivoire’s private sector companies, has a long-standing partnership with the African Development Bank to boost youth entrepreneurship. Their joint initiative, La finance s’engage (Finance Commits) has mobilised resources for hundreds of Ivorian start-ups since 2016, including a €1.108 million project that has supported 200 young entrepreneurs, nearly a third of them women.

AI could hold the key to financial inclusion in South Africa — unlocking access, trust, and opportunity for millions still outside the formal banking system 

South Africa boasts one of Africa’s most sophisticated financial economies, yet a troubling reality persists beneath the fintech shine. Around 11 million adults remain disconnected from reliable credit, savings options, or formal banking, according to University of Stellenbosch Business School research. Meanwhile, mobile phone ownership has reached an impressive 92% across the country. 

This contrast presents a compelling opportunity: where brick-and-mortar banking infrastructure has fallen short, digital technology might succeed. We’re already seeing AI-powered tools make significant headway in financial inclusion across emerging markets. Take the Middle East, where mobile AI platforms now connect people with microloans and help them navigate financial services digitally. Could South Africa follow suit? 

Breaking new ground with AI and alternative data 

McKinsey & Company research points to an exciting possibility: AI systems that can independently assess creditworthiness and negotiate loan terms on the spot. What makes this approach revolutionary is how these systems can evaluate non-traditional financial indicators—mobile payment patterns, airtime usage, and informal saving habits—where conventional credit scoring models simply don’t work. 

“AI has the potential to fundamentally reshape lending models,” explains Tertius De Bruin, Consultant at Johannesburg-based fintech consultancy Elenjical Solutions. “It can bring visibility to communities and individuals who have historically been left out of formal finance—not because of risk, but because of limited data.” 

This capability could transform lives – from small business owners in Khayelitsha township to farmers in rural Limpopo – without the barriers of physical bank visits or complicated paperwork.

AI’s impact extends beyond just lending. It can make financial information more accessible, deliver personalised financial education, and help develop digital products suited to local realities—where smartphone access is common but financial literacy often isn’t. 

“There’s a growing awareness that AI needs to be both powerful and responsible,” De Bruin notes. “Especially in a country like South Africa, where financial systems carry a legacy of exclusion. The technology must adapt to the people—not the other way around.” 

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Homegrown innovation with global potential 

The South African fintech landscape is buzzing with activity. Companies like Elenjical Solutions are putting AI at the heart of their development strategy. Known for their expertise in capital markets technology and integration with platforms like Murex, they’re investing heavily in AI solutions tailored specifically for financial institutions. 

While Elenjical has already developed AI tools, they’re now focusing on practical, market-ready applications. Their AI-assisted SQL query tool helps developers create more efficient statements, whilst their AI log querying assistant interprets system logs and suggest fixes based on technical documentation—particularly valuable in complex banking environments.

“These aren’t speculative R&D projects,” De Bruin emphasises. “They’re aimed at solving real-world pain points for our clients and improving the efficiency of our own teams. We’re combining local understanding with world-class capability.” 

Banking the unbanked—a distinctly African approach 

Financial exclusion won’t disappear overnight, but the way forward is becoming clearer. Picture a pilot programme where AI agents underwrite microloans for thousands of previously unbanked South Africans. By monitoring repayment patterns over time, these initiatives could build new trust models between lenders and borrowers—without depending on traditional financial histories. 

Those outside the banking system don’t need charity—they need tools that recognise their unique circumstances, engage them meaningfully, and actually work for them. AI, designed thoughtfully and expertly, can deliver exactly that. And when combined with deep industry knowledge—as in Elenjical’s specialised innovations—it becomes more than just technology. It becomes essential infrastructure. 

“We’re at a pivotal moment,” says De Bruin. “South Africa’s fintech ecosystem is bursting with talent and ideas. The challenge now is to turn that potential into measurable impact—for the entrepreneur in Soweto, the smallholder in the Eastern Cape, or the student in Durban building credit for the first time.” 

The true promise of AI isn’t replacing people—it’s reaching them. Building a system where everyone counts. And in doing so, closing a gap that should never have existed in the first place.

The global financial landscape is on the brink of massive change, and as always, crypto is in the eye of the storm. With Donald Trump reclaiming the presidency, we’re not just looking at a political shift – we’re staring down a potential reset of the global monetary system.

For investors, the question isn’t whether to buckle up but how to position portfolios to thrive amid uncertainty. Spoiler alert: Bitcoin and crypto could become the ultimate beneficiaries of this tectonic economic transformation.

Trump’s Big Plans: Weakening the Dollar, Strengthening America

Trump’s policy goals are clear: bring manufacturing back to America, fortify military power, and reindustrialize the economy. But these lofty ambitions come with a heavy price tag and require one key ingredient – money. Lots of it.

How does Trump plan to make America competitive again? By weakening the dollar. Devaluing the greenback against gold or other major currencies makes U.S. exports cheaper and incentivizes companies to move production back home. It’s a bold strategy, but it’s also a double-edged sword that could send ripple effects through global markets.

A weaker dollar means inflationary pressure on other nations. To counter this, countries like China, Japan, and those in the European Union (EU) will likely print more money, further expanding global liquidity. Historically, when fiat currencies flood the market, scarce assets like gold – and increasingly, Bitcoin – become the go-to hedge.

The Global Ripple Effect

Faced with Trump’s trade policies, China will likely respond by printing yuan to stabilize its slowing economy and counteract deflation. However, a weaker yuan could lead to capital flight as wealthy Chinese investors seek safer havens. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies stand to benefit as digital lifeboats for escaping capital restrictions.

Japan’s economic relationship with the U.S. means it will follow Trump’s directives to strengthen the yen, making Japanese products more expensive but politically aligning with America. To offset the pain, Japan may inject trillions of dollars into global markets as it unwinds its carry trade, injecting much-needed liquidity into risk assets like crypto.

Europe’s response is less about action and more about survival. As EU leaders face economic stagnation and inflation, they’re turning to financial repression – essentially forcing European savers to fund state projects by restricting investment options. This will likely drive European investors toward decentralized assets like Bitcoin, where their capital can’t be seized or inflated away.

Why Crypto Could Shine Bright

In a world flooded with fiat, Bitcoin’s fixed supply becomes its most attractive feature. Unlike gold, which is tied to physical logistics and geopolitics, Bitcoin is borderless, easily transferable, and increasingly recognized as “digital gold.”

Here’s why the next wave of macroeconomic shifts could catapult crypto:

• Dollar Devaluation: If Trump devalues the dollar, assets like Bitcoin, which are priced in USD, will naturally rise as their purchasing power increases.
• Institutional Inflows: Speculation about governments or institutions holding Bitcoin as a reserve asset – similar to gold – will drive demand higher.
• Global Liquidity Flood: With central banks printing money to maintain economic stability, surplus fiat will flow into scarce digital assets, amplifying crypto’s bull run.

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What Could Go Wrong?

Crypto’s path to glory isn’t without obstacles. A few bumps on the road could include:

• Regulatory Clamps: Governments might tighten regulations on crypto to curb capital flight or protect their fiat systems.
• Market Timing Missteps: Investors betting on short-term price movements could get caught in bouts of volatility, especially around Trump’s inauguration in January 2025.
• Overreliance on Liquidity: If central banks mismanage liquidity injections, it could lead to deflationary shocks, hurting all risk assets, including crypto.

How Investors Can Prepare

Navigating the intersection of macroeconomics and crypto requires a mix of patience and strategy. Investors should consider:

1. HODL Mentality: Long-term crypto holders tend to outperform those trying to time the market. Bitcoin’s scarcity and growing adoption remain its most compelling long-term value drivers.
2. Diversification: Altcoins in emerging narratives like decentralized finance (DeFi) and science (DeSci) could offer outsized returns as liquidity spills over into speculative assets.
3. Buying the Dip: Expect volatility, especially around major political milestones like Trump’s inauguration. Savvy investors should use these moments to accumulate.

The world is shifting. Fiat currencies are set to lose purchasing power as central banks scramble to maintain control in the face of rising debt, trade imbalances, and political demands. For Bitcoin, this is a golden – or digital – opportunity.

While we’re unlikely to see a smooth ride to $120,000 or beyond, the macroeconomic winds are clearly blowing in crypto’s favor. As Trump’s policies push the world toward a new monetary system, Bitcoin is emerging not just as a hedge but as a cornerstone of the financial future.

For investors willing to stomach the volatility, the rewards of riding this wave could be nothing short of transformational.

Written by: Heath Muchena, founder of Proudly Associated and author of Tokenized Trillions and Blockchain Applied.