Hormuz crisis: Africa must control trade routes, says Prateek Suri

Prateek Suri, a billionaire investor and Chairman of Maser Group, has warned that recent tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and other vital maritime chokepoints should alert African governments, investors, and business leaders. He argued that the future of global capitalism is increasingly determined by those countries and businesses that control critical infrastructure, logistics networks, and trade corridors.

Suri highlighted the potential vulnerabilities of economies to events occurring thousands of kilometers away, particularly in the context of disruptions along major shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, and the Suez Canal. These routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy corridor, significantly impact energy prices globally.

Suri emphasized that geography still matters, and countries controlling energy, goods, and data movement will shape future global wealth creation. He suggested that Africa could benefit from the changing trade landscape by investing in maritime infrastructure, manufacturing, and regional trade connectivity, as the continent sits at the center of emerging trade corridors linking Asia, the Gulf, Europe, and the Americas.

Gulf investments in African markets span logistics, renewable energy, mining, technology, and industrial infrastructure, with Suri predicting significant growth in Gulf-Africa trade and investment. He further cautioned that in the next decade, ownership of infrastructure like ports, power, logistics, and AI facilities may become more crucial than ownership of products, positioning Africa as a strategic hub of global commerce if it leverages these opportunities.