A new feature released by Billionaires Africa has highlighted 30 Indian and Indian-origin entrepreneurs whose business ventures have grown into major multi-million and billion-dollar enterprises across the continent. The list begins with Ugandan businessman Sudhir Ruparelia, reflecting the scale and breadth of his influence across key sectors in Uganda’s private economy.
Indian business communities have been active in Africa for more than a century, initially establishing small trading shops and supply networks before expanding into larger industries. Over time, many of these enterprises diversified into manufacturing, real estate development, agriculture, steel production, finance, logistics, telecoms and retail. Today, companies built by Indian-origin families and entrepreneurs form an important part of economic activity in East, West, Southern and Indian Ocean Africa.
Billionaires Africa arranged its feature chronologically by listing each entrepreneur alongside their principal companies. The lineup starts with Ruparelia.
1. Sudhir Ruparelia – Uganda
Company: Ruparelia Group
Sudhir Ruparelia heads one of Uganda’s largest privately owned business groups. The Ruparelia Group operates in hospitality, commercial and residential real estate, insurance, financial services, education, agriculture and floriculture. Its portfolio includes hotels, resorts, office towers, apartment blocks, shopping complexes and private schools. These investments form a major part of Kampala’s evolving real estate and service sectors.
2. Sunil Vaswani – Nigeria
Company: Stallion Group
Chair of Stallion Group, active in agriculture, vehicle assembly, packaging, fisheries, steel and logistics.
3. Vimal Shah – Kenya
Company: Bidco Africa
Co-founder of Bidco, a major FMCG producer in East and Central Africa.
4. Narendra Raval – Kenya
Company: Devki Group
Founder of Devki Group, a leading producer of steel, cement and roofing materials.
5. Manu Chandaria – Kenya
Company: Comcraft Group
Leader of Comcraft, a multinational industrial manufacturer of steel, aluminium and plastics.
6. Chandu Shah – Kenya
Company: AquaSanTec
Founder of AquaSanTec, which supplies water tanks and sanitation solutions across East Africa.
7. Dhiren Chandaria – Kenya
Company: Ariel Foods / Orbit Chemicals
Operates Orbit Chemicals and Ariel Foods, supplying contract manufacturing and therapeutic foods.
8. Mayur Madhvani – Uganda
Company: Madhvani Group
Executive in the Madhvani Group, active in sugar production, energy, agriculture and hospitality.
9. Vinay & Ratan Mahtani – Nigeria
Company: Churchgate Group
Developers of major commercial and real estate projects including the World Trade Center Abuja.
10. Ramesh Hathiramani – Nigeria
Company: Dana Group
Founded Dana Group, operating in pharmaceuticals, aviation, steel and automobile distribution.
11. Amirali “Mukwano” Karmali – Uganda
Company: Mukwano Group
Built one of Uganda’s largest manufacturers of plastics, edible oils, detergents and consumer goods.
12. Vivian Reddy – South Africa
Company: Edison Group
Founder of Edison Group, active in electrical engineering, hospitality and property.
13. Ramesh Valechha – Nigeria
Company: Milan Group
Diversified operations in automobiles, real estate, hospitality and logistics.
14. Benoy Berry – Nigeria
Company: Contec Global
Developer of biometric and identity technologies for government and commercial use.
15. Raj & Alok Gupta – Nigeria
Company: African Industries Group
Producers of steel, mining products, chemicals and real estate developments.
16. Ylias Akbaraly – Madagascar
Company: Sipromad Group
Operates in agriculture, hospitality, aviation, utilities and consumer goods.
17. Hassanein Hiridjee – Madagascar
Company: Axian Group
Investment group with major interests in telecoms, banking and energy.
18. Bashir Currimjee – Mauritius
Company: Curimjee Group
Active in telecoms, media, real estate, tourism, energy and consumer goods.
19. Rambhai Patel – Kenya
Company: Ramco Group
Group active in printing, packaging, steel and office supplies across East Africa.
20. Hargovind & Balkrishnan Gorajia – Rwanda
Company: Akagera Business Group
Operates in vehicle distribution, machinery and transport.
21. Baloobhai Patel – Kenya
Company: Transworld Safaris / NSE
Owner of Transworld Safaris and major equities investor.
22. Sajen Aswani – Singapore / Africa
Company: Tolaram Group
Executive in Tolaram, active in consumer goods and industrial zones in Nigeria.
23. Haresh Aswani – Singapore / Africa
Company: Tolaram Africa
Led Tolaram Africa’s manufacturing expansion and key acquisitions.
24. Savitri Jindal & Family – India / Africa
Company: Jindal Group / Jindal Africa
Operates mining and energy projects across Southern Africa.
25. Ashish J. Thakkar – Uganda
Company: Mara Group
Founder of Mara Group, active in technology, real estate and finance.
26. M. A. Yusuff Ali – India / Africa
Company: LuLu Group
Expanded LuLu retail operations into Egypt and Kenya.
27. Rakesh Wahi – India / South Africa
Company: ABN Group
Co-founder of CNBC Africa and Forbes Africa with investments in media and education.
Sudhir Ruparelia features in the Billionaires Africa list due to the scale and impact of the Ruparelia Group’s operations in Uganda. His investments cover key sectors such as real estate, hospitality, education, finance and agriculture. Through hotels, commercial buildings, residential towers, mixed-use developments and private learning institutions, the group has contributed to urban growth and service expansion in Kampala. This breadth of activity places him among the Indian-origin entrepreneurs with significant economic influence on the continent.
