Actualités financières
01/06/2026
Last Friday, IBL brought together its leadership team for a strategic reflection session with Benoît Chervalier, President of the Africa Committee of BusinessEurope, investment banker, Executive Director of the ESSEC Chair “Business and Industry in Africa,” and a recognispecialist in African economies. The discussion formed part of a strategic monitoring initiative aimed at deepening understanding of the continent’s economic and institutional trajectories. Already present in Africa for several years, IBL has recently strengthened its footprint through new acquisitions in Kenya, further consolidating its progressive anchoring in the region.
During the session, Benoît Chervalier shared insights and reflections drawn from 25 years of hands-on experience in the field. He emphasised that the continent is not a homogeneous whole. According to him, one should speak of Africas, given the wide differences in demographic, political, and economic contexts from one country to another. This diversity requires a nuanced and highly contextualised approach to each market. The gaps between countries with strong industrial momentum, those undergoing fragile institutional transitions, and those experiencing rapid demographic transformation demand decisions grounded in precise, on-the-ground knowledge.
The discussions also addressed several key structural challenges such as the growing role of the private sector in economic stability, the rise of new industrial capabilities, talent development and technical and technological needs, the challenges linked to urbanisation, and the need to strengthen ties between education systems and businesses. Benoît Chervalier highlighted a central observation: a sustainable market entry strategy depends on the ability to grasp national specificities, understand areas of resilience, and identify country-specific value drivers.
“The private sector plays an essential role. Even when political contexts are complex, it is businesses that keep activity going. For groups like IBL, this responsibility comes with a duty to understand local realities and to adopt a rigorous approach to each market,” said Benoît Chervalier.
For IBL, these insights help shape a strategic reading of African environments. The objective is to enhance the quality of analysis that guides decision-making. This meeting enabled the Group’s leadership to discuss ongoing transformations and assess the economic and financial trajectories shaping IBL’s strategic actions across the continent.
“This session provided us with a precise and useful understanding of the environments in the African countries where IBL is already active, as well as those we are closely studying. Understanding local realities is essential to building responsible development aligned with the needs of the territories. This rigorous, ground-level approach guides how we envision our presence in the region,” said Preetee Jhamna, CFO Group Operations.
The session offered a rich and structured space for analysis, allowing IBL’s leadership to consolidate its vision and integrate independent perspectives on the continent’s dynamics. This collective working moment strengthens the Group’s ability to operate in diverse African contexts and to pursue its development with precision and discernment.
About Benoît Chervalier
Benoît Chervalier is President of the Africa Committee of BusinessEurope, Vice President for Africa at MEDEF International, an entrepreneur, and a specialist in African economies. He is the Executive Director of the “Business and Industry in Africa” Chair at ESSEC and the author of Ce qu’attend l’Afrique (What Africa Awaits), a book that explores the continent’s economic, demographic, and geopolitical transformations with clarity and enthusiasm. He brings more than 25 years of experience in analysing and structuring projects in Africa, having worked in over forty countries. His career spans teaching, strategic advisory work, finance, and engagement with high-level public and private stakeholders.
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