As fintech innovation continues to accelerate across the region, South Africa has emerged as a natural hub for financial technology and digital inclusion. With one of the most advanced financial systems in Africa and a thriving ecosystem of start-ups and talent, Cape Town offers a unique blend of innovation and opportunity, making it the ideal regional hub for Exness.

The new state-of-the-art office serves as the center of Exness’ operations in South Africa and across the SSA region. It will house local professionals providing local expertise and insights, ensuring that clients across the region benefit from local insight and global-standard service.

Petr Valov, Exness co-founder and CEO, expressed, “The opening of our Cape Town office marks a new chapter for Exness, one that involves innovation and regional growth. We see immense potential in SSA and our investment here reflects our confidence in the region’s growth and in the incredible talent driving it.”

The office’s inauguration brought together Exness executives, local partners, and media representatives to celebrate this significant milestone. The event featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony, speeches from the company’s senior management, and a reception with the regional team, underscoring Exness’ deepening roots in the region.

The celebration continued with the Creators (EX)perience held at Killarney International Raceway’s Joubert Pits,  where Exness hosted an adrenaline-charged event that embodied the brand’s values of precision and prestige. The day featured a supercar showcase and F1-style pit stop challenges, bringing the energy of motorsport to life. Guests also participated in a high-intensity racing simulator competition, where their reflexes were put to the test in a virtual tournament.

Paul Margarites, Exness Regional Commercial Director, commented, “By building a strong local presence, we are bringing our global expertise closer to our traders. This office is more than a space; it’s a reflection of our long-term commitment to traders in the region.”

By combining cutting-edge trading infrastructure with local expertise, Exness is empowering traders with access, confidence, and better-than-market conditions. Exness’ growing Sub-Saharan Africa operations are supported by its Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) license in South Africa and its Capital Markets Authority (CMA) license in Kenya, reinforcing the company’s commitment to responsible, transparent, and regulated operations across the continent.

GRAf is a co-investment platform promoted by CDP and the African Development Bank Group as part of the implementation of Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa. CDP is Italy’s flagship development finance institution. Under the Mattei Plan for Africa, Italy aims to foster economic and strategic partnerships with African nations and institutions. The African Development Bank Group is Italy’s main strategic financial partner for implementation of the plan.

GRAf seeks to create an ecosystem of investors committed to sharing opportunities and expertise in Africa’s private sector, generating tangible impacts on the real economy—from job creation to improving essential products and services. The platform supports the African private sector through indirect investments deployed via investment funds, with a goal of mobilising up to €750 million over five years. Target sectors include food security, SME development, and sustainable infrastructure.

Aligning with the objectives of the Mattei Plan, CDP leverages its resources and expertise to foster mutual growth, supporting international investment opportunities and the global reach of Italian enterprises. As a key champion of the Mattei Plan, a CDP delegation participated in Market Days 2025 to further these collaborations and showcase activities including promoting the crucial role of the private sector in advancing sustainable development across Africa and promoting financial instruments available to support private enterprise.

CDP also attended an event organised by the International Development Finance Club (IDFC) to launch the  Cooperation 4 Development Investment Forum—a platform designed to strengthen cooperation among development banks to promote co-financing and joint projects. IDFC brings together 27 institutions, including CDP, with the aim of consolidating global financial architecture and accelerating sustainable investments.

The agreement was signed by H.E. Abdullah Almusaibeeh, President of BADEA, and Mr. Samaila Zubairu, President & Chief Executive Officer of AFC, as part of AFC Day, held during the B20 Summit in Johannesburg. The signing underscores the two institutions’ shared commitment to scaling sustainable development and unlocking long-term capital for African infrastructure.

The collaboration builds on BADEA’s shareholder investment in 2020, and the cooperation framework signed that year to jointly develop and finance infrastructure across priority sectors. This new facility reinforces BADEA’s role as a strategic partner and strengthens AFC’s capacity to deliver transformational infrastructure across the continent.

The proceeds will support AFC’s mandate to develop and finance critical power, transport and logistics, heavy industries, telecommunications and digital infrastructure, as well as mining and natural resources. Through its established project development, structuring and execution capabilities, AFC will channel the capital into high-impact projects that catalyse economic transformation.

“As a shareholder of AFC, BADEA has been a valued and long-standing partner in advancing our mandate,” said Mr. Zubairu. “By deploying capital into sustainable, high-impact infrastructure, we continue to create pathways for inclusive economic growth across the continent.”

“BADEA and AFC have been strategic partners in advancing Africa’s development agenda, with a remarkable track-record of syndicated transformative projects with medium to long-term financial instruments including equity participation,” said H.E. Abdullah Almusaibeeh, President of BADEA. “Today’s signing of this USD75 million line of credit speaks volumes about BADEA’s agility to respond to development needs with a variety of instruments of different maturities.”

The facility also supports AFC’s broader strategy to diversify its funding base and mobilise long-term capital for Africa’s development. By strengthening collaboration with shareholder institutions such as BADEA, AFC continues to expand its capacity to finance resilient infrastructure and advance sustainable economic development across the continent.