Maser Group is moving into agriculture and AI infrastructure in Africa, planning to invest $1.6 billion in Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya over the next 24 months. The expansion targets rising food import bills and fast-growing demand for data centers across the continent.
Founded in 2014, Maser has historically focused on consumer electronics but is now addressing Africa’s twin challenges of food security and digital infrastructure. The company has already committed around $300 million to land acquisitions and other asset-backed projects in Africa, according to founder and chairman Prateek Suri.
The bulk of the funding will come from Maser’s investment arm, MDR Investments LLC, in partnership with China-backed Chia Ventures Co. MDR manages a $500 million fund and is exploring public-private partnerships with several African governments, including Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Rwanda, and Nigeria, across sectors such as agriculture, mining, and affordable housing.
Africa’s Market Potential
Africa’s food import bill surpassed $83 billion in 2023, highlighting the need to expand local agricultural production, according to the UN Economic Commission for Africa. At the same time, the continent’s data center capacity is expected to grow from 0.4 gigawatts today to around 2.2 gigawatts by 2030, requiring roughly $20 billion in new investment, McKinsey & Co. reported.
Maser Group currently operates in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, and Egypt, selling household appliances including televisions, washing machines, and refrigerators. Ownership is divided with Suri holding 56 percent, Chia Ventures at 30 percent, and TPA Electronics Co. at 14 percent.
The company’s pivot reflects one of the more ambitious private-sector bets on Africa’s growing demand for both agricultural output and digital infrastructure, signaling increasing confidence from international investors in the continent’s long-term growth prospects.
