Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 6 days ago
Panel: Bold about people: Investing in frontier markets
British International Investment has a particular focus on investments in frontier markets—regions often overlooked by commercial investors due to limited private sector activity and challenging business environments. In 2024, we made £880 million of commitments to the poorer and most fragile countries across the regions where we invest.
We see development finance as a powerful tool to unlock opportunities in these underserved areas. But how can it be directed more effectively towards the most fragile and vulnerable countries? And how can it best support low-income communities—whether through essential services, job creation, or improved livelihoods?
In this session, three of our partner businesses – from Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ethiopia - shared the challenges they've encountered and reflections on how their collaboration with BII is helping to deliver vital services, generate employment, and enhance everyday lives.
Speakers
• Moderator: Huma Yusuf, Director, Business Integrity and Corporate Governance, British International Investment
• Sebastian Ashong-Katai, Managing Director, Ecobank Sierra Leone
• Luke Burras, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, MOPO
• Yonas Alemu, Founder and Managing Director, Lovegrass Ethiopia
Panel: Bold about people: Investing in frontier markets
British International Investment has a particular focus on investments in frontier markets—regions often overlooked by commercial investors due to limited private sector activity and challenging business environments. In 2024, we made £880 million of commitments to the poorer and most fragile countries across the regions where we invest.
We see development finance as a powerful tool to unlock opportunities in these underserved areas. But how can it be directed more effectively towards the most fragile and vulnerable countries? And how can it best support low-income communities—whether through essential services, job creation, or improved livelihoods?
In this session, three of our partner businesses – from Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ethiopia - shared the challenges they've encountered and reflections on how their collaboration with BII is helping to deliver vital services, generate employment, and enhance everyday lives.
Speakers
• Moderator: Huma Yusuf, Director, Business Integrity and Corporate Governance, British International Investment
• Sebastian Ashong-Katai, Managing Director, Ecobank Sierra Leone
• Luke Burras, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, MOPO
• Yonas Alemu, Founder and Managing Director, Lovegrass Ethiopia
