Gagan Gupta expands Arise industrial zones in Africa

Indian entrepreneur Gagan Gupta is expanding industrial and logistics projects across Africa through his Arise group, with a focus on processing raw materials locally rather than exporting them in raw form.

Gupta, 51, has built special economic zones and related infrastructure in countries including Gabon and Benin. He launched the 1,000-hectare Nkok special economic zone in Gabon in 2010 to process timber, one of the country's main resources.

Gupta said about 100,000 people come to work in zones run by Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms, one of the group's entities. In Benin, the Glo-Djigbe site has moved into textile production and exported its first garments in 2024 for French retailer Kiabi, followed by other international brands.

Arise IIP says it has secured nearly $2 billion in cumulative investment and announced a $700 million fundraising round in September 2025. Its shareholders include the Africa Finance Corporation, Saudi firm Vision Invest and Gupta's investment fund Equitane.

Gupta is also expanding into energy through Spiro and mining projects involving iron ore in Gabon, bauxite in Cameroon and gold in Mali. He said lithium-ion battery production plants would be set up in Nigeria and Kenya.

Arise has denied accusations of fraud or corruption in the award of public contracts, including in Gabon and Chad. Critics have also questioned tax incentives and streamlined procedures granted to investors, arguing that they reduce state revenue.