Poor, full of conflict and insecurity and political instability are some of the words used to describe the African continent but hey, hold on and watch out for this continent because the next decade, we’re about to witness a new Africa, one that defies the status quo and embraces its own destiny. The era of coups, challenging neo-colonialism and imperialism, marks just the beginning of this dramatic transformation. From the speeches, statements and comments made by African leaders of today, it can be observed that most of them no longer want to play puppets to the West as they have done before and which have made the continents remain behind. African leaders are waking up and they are ready to create change in the continent. So, fasten your seatbelts as we explore 10 African countries with visionary plans that will reshape their destinies.
Ivory Coast Vision 2040
Ivory Coast is the main economic powerhouse of French-speaking West Africa. Known for its cocoa production, cashew nuts, and rubber, Ivory Coast has set its sights on an ambitious Vision 2040: “Côte d’Ivoire, an industrial power, united in its cultural diversity, democratic and open to the world.” As part of this vision, the country is investing $5.8 billion to revamp its tourism industry, unlocking its rich cultural and leisure attractions. The country has a wide array of tourist attractions, including cultural, religious, and leisure sites, and underexploited niche segments such as sport or ecotourism. So, the investment of the government is a good step in the right direction. Also, as part of the 2040 master plan, the government has introduced free and compulsory education for all children up to 16 years. This happened back in 2015. Consequently, the major impact was seen as net education went from 68% to 87% within a year. Pregnancy in school has also dropped by 25% generally and by 87% in primary school.
Botswana Vision 2036
Botswana, once the world’s poorest country has grown to become a middle-income country. Botswana Vision 2036 is a transformational programme outlining the country’s aspirations and objectives. It aims to transform Botswana from an upper-middle-income to a high-income country by 2036, outlining a compelling vision of the country’s future and assuring widespread prosperity for all. It is a continuation and expansion of Vision 2016, Botswana’s first national vision that ran from 1996 to 2016. It focuses on four key goals, including “Human and Social Development,” emphasizing children’s well-being, gender equality, education, skills development, and healthcare access. The plan also targets economic growth through sectors like infrastructure, small businesses, agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and transportation. Botswana’s abundant mineral wealth has paved the way for economic stability and growth, setting the stage for poverty eradication and a thriving business environment.
Tanzania’s Vision 2025
Vision 2025, is a strategic plan initiated back in 1995 by former President Benjamin Mkapa. This visionary blueprint centers on nurturing industrialization for economic transformation and human development. Its ultimate goal? The eradication of poverty. Despite changes in leadership, Tanzania has remained committed to this vision. The government’s revival of Air Tanzania with a whopping $434.79 million investment is just one bold step forward. And let’s not forget the ambitious Julius Nyerere Hydroelectric Project. While it faces environmental scrutiny, upon completion, it will stand as one of Africa’s largest hydroelectric dams, bringing new energy to the nation.
Mauritius Vision 2030
The picturesque island nation of Mauritius is known for its economic prowess and is Africa’s shining star. Mauritius stands out as one of Africa’s economic powerhouses, boasting the highest human development index on the continent. In the past decade alone, it attracted over $3 billion in foreign direct investment from global giants like the United States, the UAE, and South Africa. Mauritius has proudly achieved upper-middle-income status and boasts a decentralized, well-defined economy. With Vision 2030, the country aims to reach new heights and in line with its vision for 2030, it has embarked on a major construction project to build villas for its citizens. One of such developments is the the impressive Mont Choisy Le Parc, a 200 residential villas establishment aimed at foreigners and international investors and so far the project looks fantastic , with the apartment complex currently offering units for sale.
Mauritius’s financial and energy sectors are also thriving, with renewable energy set to hit 35% usage by 2025. The broader goals? Sustaining political stability, ascending to high-income status, and creating smart cities.
Kenya Vision 2023
Kenya’s Vision 2030 is the brainchild of Former President Mwai Kibaki and it’s in motion. The grand goal? To transform Kenya into a middle-income country with an exceptional quality of life. The focus here is on industrialization while maintaining a clean and secure environment. Kenya is backing this vision with monumental projects that are already reshaping its landscape. The 3.6 billion-dollar standard gauge railway and the impressive Thika Super Highway are just the tip of the iceberg. The nation is also investing heavily in affordable housing, food security, and universal healthcare, laying the foundation for a brighter future. The International Monetary Fund predicts that Kenya, now East Africa’s largest economy, will maintain this status until at least 2024.
Uganda Vision 2040
Uganda’s Vision 2040 is an audacious plan to transform the nation from a peasant society to a modern and prosperous country in just 30 years. This visionary plan capitalizes on opportunities in ICT, minerals, tourism, and industrialization. Bold projects are in the pipeline, from phosphate industry development to international airports, iron ore exploration, nuclear and hydropower plants, and a multi-lane national road network. Uganda has already made impressive strides, with infrastructure projects like the New Nile Bridge, the Mulago Maternal and Neonatal Hospital, and the relaunch of Uganda Airlines. A strategic partnership with Kenya for a dry port further amplifies trade prospects. But that’s not all! One magnificent achievement in Uganda’s journey is its agricultural success. The nation produces ample food to meet its population’s needs and even exports the surplus. In 2017/2018, Uganda recorded the production of a staggering 2.5 billion liters of milk, firmly establishing itself as an agricultural leader.
Ethiopia’s Vision 2025
This Vision seeks to encourage “strategic investment in infrastructure and production activities, especially in priority light manufacturing activities that link agriculture, labor, export, and strategic support industries such as renewable energy.” Some of the key targets include being a globally competitive country in export-oriented manufacturing, learning-by-doing and benchmarking with countries such as Mauritius, Singapore, and Japan as well as investing in more industrial parks across the country. After launching a humongous hotel in Addis Ababa, the Skylight Hotel, and the Ethiopian Airlines—the most profitable in Africa, the government is planning to build a 5 billion dollar airport. The government has made sure that the outfit, which contributes a major chunk of money to the economy, is rising higher in profits. In 2019, the company recorded a 19 percent spike in profits.
However, the nation is also seeking to invest 7.5 billion dollars in completing the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, sugar processing plants, textile factories, fertilizer production plants, and many other mega projects. The next decade definitely looks bright for the East African nation.
Egypt Vision 2030
Egypt’s Vision Plan for 2030 is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This robust growth plan is inspired by the country’s ancient civilization. The plan seeks to “Achieve a competitive, balanced, diversified, and knowledge-based economy, characterized by justice, social integration, and participation, with a balanced and diversified ecosystem, benefiting from its strategic location and human capital to achieve sustainable development for a better life for all Egyptians.” One of the reflections of its master plan is the building of an entirely new capital city. The smart city is between the Nile and Suez Canal. It will have “a new parliament and presidential palace, Egypt’s largest airport, Africa’s tallest tower, the Middle East’s largest opera house, a $20bn entertainment district, and a giant urban park bigger than Central Park in New York.” It seems so ambitious but the good thing is that this ambitious project is fast-tracking to completion.
Aside from this, some of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that the country has set are to have a GDP growth rate of 12% by 2030, a Public Debt to GDP ratio of 75%, an inflation rate of 3-5% from the current 11.8 percent, and a female labor force participation of 35%.
South Africa Vision 2030
South Africa is the second-best economy in Africa just behind Nigeria but it has been faced with lots of challenges including a very low workforce, the education quality for black people is poor, high levels of corruption, uneven distribution, and poor public service. However, the country is making strides toward tremendous growth as seen in its Vision 2030 plan. The plan aims to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030. This plan is also part of Gauteng’s plan to build thirty new cities that will have affordable housing units. The next decade will see the unveiling of more megaprojects. By 2030, the country wants to increase employment from 13 to 24 million, increase the share of national income of the bottom 40 percent from 6 percent to 10 percent, broaden ownership of assets to historically disadvantaged groups, make high-speed broadband internet universally available at competitive prices, and much more.
While the country is still facing some challenges, it has grown tremendously to position itself as an investment destination for foreign companies. Global fashion, luxury, tech, and consumer brands have their regional offices in South Africa.
Rwanda Vision 2050
Rwanda is one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies. Vision City, a smart-city project, features stunning villas, free 4G LTE network coverage, and solar-powered street lamps. This is part of the government’s emphasis on private-sector-led development. The country is also heavily investing in its ICT industry. In late 2019, Africa’s first mobile phone manufacturing was established. Mara, the business behind this feat, already has full-scale manufacturing models for sale. President Paul Kagame is also pursuing numerous collaborations for green growth and a circular economy. As a result, Rwanda’s future appears bright in the coming decade, and President Paul is doing an excellent job in the country. However, the journey is far from over. The new vision plan, planned for 2050, aims to improve Rwandans’ living standards. The plan was created by including Rwandan citizens in a discussion on how to determine their future and the future of their children.
As we wrap up our journey through these 10 visionary African nations, it’s clear that the continent is on the cusp of a remarkable transformation. These plans are not just aspirations but concrete steps towards building a brighter future for their citizens. Africa is no longer content with the status quo; it’s embracing change and innovation. If you found this journey through Africa’s vision plans inspiring, don’t forget to hit that like button, subscribe for more enlightening content, and share this video to spread the word about Africa’s incredible journey of transformation.