ARISE IIP secures $700M from Saudi investor to fast track industrial expansion in Africa

Saudi investment firm Vision Invest has acquired a new stake in ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP) via a $700 million capital raise. This is one of Africa’s larger private infrastructure deals. The funding will be used to scale ARISE IIP’s industrial zones and deepen its footprint across the continent.

ARISE IIP was founded in 2010. It has built infrastructure in more than 14 African countries, deployed nearly $2 billion in projects, and helped create over 50,000 jobs. Founding shareholders—Africa Finance Corporation, Equitane, and the Fund for Export Development in Africa—remain partners, joined now by Vision Invest.

 “ARISE has always believed in Africa’s promise and the talent driving its growth,” Gagan Gupta, ARISE IIP’s Founder & CEO. “The partnership with Vision Invest and the continued support of our institutional shareholders will help us build resilient, self-sustaining industrial ecosystems that deliver long-term value.”

The deal was advised by Standard Chartered Bank and Norton Rose Fulbright for ARISE IIP. On Vision Invest’s side, EFG Hermes and Linklaters provided counsel.

Why this matters

This $700 million raise signals growing confidence in Africa’s industrial potential. Seeing funding of this size flow into sustainable infrastructure suggests external investors are shifting from purely financial returns toward impact and local value creation.

Countries with ARISE IIP parks—like Benin, Gabon, and Togo—have seen more factories processing raw materials. These include wood, cotton, cashew, pharmaceuticals, and meat. The hard economic work of transforming raw exports into finished or semi-finished goods can pay off locally by creating jobs and keeping more value inside the country.

Vision Invest’s entry is its first direct investment on the African continent. It joins ARISE IIP’s existing backers in supporting industrialisation that combines environmental concerns, inclusivity, and sustainability. Across Africa, Gulf investors have been expanding infrastructure, renewable energy, and logistics deals lately. Reports suggest billions in pledged investments from Middle Eastern firms in African projects in recent months.

For ARISE IIP, this move means faster rollout of industrial ecosystems. These zones are meant to include reliable facilities and services so that companies don’t just build factories, but durable supply chains.

Local value chain strengthening is also part of the plan. ARISE IIP focuses on import substitution—processing raw materials on site rather than exporting them unprocessed.

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