The lack of reliable data, a major obstacle to investment and growth on the continent, Congo-Brazzaville's efforts to strengthen its food sovereignty with Protected Agricultural Zones, and the economic crisis in the DRC, exacerbated by business closures and ongoing violence.

Without reliable data, is Africa missing out on its potential?

Africa, despite its economic dynamism and rapidly growing middle class, faces a major challenge: the lack of reliable data. This poses a significant obstacle for investors and local businesses, who struggle to make informed decisions.

Bernard Laurendeau , founder of Enkopa Lab, highlights the importance of this data for decision-making in sectors such as banking, technology, and retail. According to him:

"For consumer-related sectors, you need more detailed data. Macroeconomic indicators from the World Bank or the IMF can help, but they are not enough."

A lack of adequate data hinders strategic decision-making, particularly regarding investments. This situation prevents companies from seizing opportunities, thus limiting their growth and innovation potential.

For Laurendeau, Africa is at a turning point. The lack of reliable data limits economic opportunities, particularly those related to the growth of the middle class. He believes that access to real-time data could transform the continent:

"The African continent is missing out on a major opportunity for growth, knowledge transfer, and technology transfer due to this lack of detailed data. The key word here is access to timely data."

It's clear that effective data management could be a game-changer. However, he points out that AI, while useful, is only a partial solution. It must be fueled by accurate and up-to-date data. In partnership with Cassie Inside, Enkopa Lab is working to create data pipelines that extract real-time insights to help businesses make informed, timely decisions.

“AI is definitely not a silver bullet. It needs to be powered by data. Our partners provide data pipelines that extract real-time insights, which is crucial for rapid decision-making.”

In this context, investors are becoming increasingly demanding. Laurendeau is clear: to attract these investments, it is not enough to provide superficial data:

"Investors want depth. They're looking for actionable insights, not just general data. You can't ask them to wait anymore."

Africa is at a turning point, and collecting accurate data is becoming a strategic lever for its economic future.

Congo-Brazzaville: Protected Agricultural Zones, a response to agricultural challenges?

In Congo-Brazzaville, agriculture is essential for diversifying the economy and reducing dependence on imports, costing up to $1.17 billion annually. To address this, the government launched Protected Agricultural Zones (ZAPs). Head of State Denis Sassou Nguesso has affirmed that these zones are crucial for strengthening local production.

In Mouindi, the ZAP brings together 500 producers on 200 hectares, while in Bouanza, 200 tons of corn were harvested on 59 hectares. Despite the wealth of arable land, only a small portion is being cultivated. If properly implemented, ZAPs could reverse this trend and reduce the food import bill.

DRC: East devastated by insecurity, local businesses at a standstill

Eastern DRC, particularly in the provinces of North and South Kivu, is experiencing a serious economic crisis exacerbated by violence by the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group. The escalation of this violence has led to the closure of numerous businesses, including the Bralima brewery, a major player in the local economy, threatening thousands of jobs and exacerbating shortages of basic goods. The prices of commodities such as rice, sugar, and oil have doubled, plunging populations into an even more precarious situation.

Economists are calling for emergency solutions, including reopening banks, to revive the economy. But with persistent attacks and the impasse in peace negotiations, expectations for concrete measures are growing.

Watch the full interview here - https://www.africanews.com/amp/2025/04/03/a-booming-market-but-lacking-data-africas-challenge-business-africa/