The World Bank's private-sector lending arm says it plans to invest up to 3.5 billion dollars in Sub-Saharan Africa this year, mainly in the infrastructure sector.
Many nations in the region are racing to invest in their roads, rail and energy systems to raise their competitiveness,following decades of under investment in the sectors.
Jean-Philippe Prosper, East and Southern Africa Director at International Finance Corporation (IFC) said they raised investment in the region this year from 2.7 million dollars in 2011.
IFC expects it may hit about four billion dollars next year.
“This year, we will invest probably 3.2-3.5 billion dollars. It will be disbursed progressively. We will do projects in about 30 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa,” Prosper said.
The corporation would for the first time ever, invest more than one billion dollars in infrastructure on the continent in one year.
In east Africa's biggest economy, Kenya, Prosper said IFC planned to invest up to 600 million dollars, with four projects,including the Kenya-Uganda railway as well as three energy projects.
Another 100 million dollars would be disbursed to Kenya's Equity Bank in the form of a loan to expand lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
SMEs face greater business obstacles than large enterprises in securing loans, Prosper said.