Hormuz crisis shows Africa must control its trade routes, Prateek Suri says

The tensions around the Strait of Hormuz should serve as a wake-up call for Africa, according to Maser Group Chairman Prateek Suri. He says the crisis is not only a geopolitical warning, but also an economic signal about who controls the infrastructure that keeps global trade moving.

Suri argued that the future of global capitalism will increasingly be shaped by countries and companies that control critical infrastructure, logistics networks and trade corridors. Disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb and the Suez Canal have shown how economies can be exposed to events thousands of kilometres away.

Hormuz remains one of the world's key energy corridors, carrying a significant share of global oil exports and influencing energy prices across continents. Suri said African governments, investors and business leaders should therefore look beyond the immediate geopolitical crisis and focus on ports, logistics hubs, industrial zones, energy infrastructure and digital networks.

“The biggest lesson from Hormuz is that geography still matters. The countries that control the movement of energy, goods and data will increasingly shape the future of global wealth creation,” Suri said.

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The biggest lesson from Hormuz is that geography still matters. The countries that control the movement of energy, goods and data will increasingly shape the future of global wealth creation.

Analysts have said the disruption has renewed interest in alternative shipping routes, including those around the Cape of Good Hope. That could create opportunities for African ports and logistics operators if governments invest more aggressively in maritime infrastructure, manufacturing and regional trade links.

Suri described Africa's position between Asia, the Gulf, Europe and the Americas as a potential advantage. “Africa is not on the edge of the global economy; it is increasingly becoming a bridge between major economic regions. The challenge is whether we build the infrastructure to capture that value,” he said.

The comments come as Gulf investors expand across African markets, with investments in logistics, renewable energy, mining, technology and industrial infrastructure. Competition is also growing around data centres, cloud facilities, fibre networks and artificial intelligence infrastructure, which experts increasingly view as strategic assets.

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Africa is not on the edge of the global economy; it is increasingly becoming a bridge between major economic regions. The challenge is whether we build the infrastructure to capture that value.