6 Fostering Sustainable Ecosystems Message from CEO Corporate Overview Corporate Governance and Business Ethics About the Report At Arise IIP, sustainability is the foundation of how we operate. Our journey began with a bold idea: that Africa’s economic transformation could be driven by value creation at source while creating meaningful, lasting jobs. With over 42,000 jobs created in Africa – where employment is both a major challenge and opportunity, we focus on inclusive workplaces that empower women and youth, building resilient communities and economies. By processing raw materials locally, we are bringing manufacturing closer to raw materials and consumers, keeping value local and reducing environmental impact. Benin Cashew SA exemplifies this: processing 100,000 metric tons of raw nuts annually, it has created 3,800 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs, with 90% female employees in leadership roles. Supported by traceability tools and certifications like Rainforest Alliance and LEED, Benin Cashew shows how industrialisation can generate jobs, promote equity, and foster sustainable local value chains. 2024 was a year of scale and substance. We raised $443 million in capital with the backing of FEDA and the Africa Finance Corporation and launched a $100 million pool to support entrepreneurs within our SEZs. We now operate across five platforms in Benin, Togo, Gabon, Chad, and Rwanda with seven more under development. Among the year’s standout achievements was the launch of the $5 billion Africa Textile Renaissance Plan, in partnership with Afreximbank and Rieter. This initiative reimagines Africa’s textile future through integrated, traceable value chains powered by tools like AFIS and Tracer, alongside new manufacturing plants in Nigeria, Cameroon, and Rwanda. With the potential to replace a significant portion of Africa’s $32 billion in annual textile imports and create over 2 million direct jobs, this marks a critical leap forward. On the ESG front, we received a 2024 ESG Risk Rating of 21.8 from Sustainalytics, performing strongly across 9 of 10 indicators with particularly high marks in governance, anti-corruption, and environmental systems. Our commitment to green infrastructure also gained momentum: the PIA facility in Togo became the country’s first LEEDcertified building, and Benin’s GDIZ Single Window earned LEED Silver. In a time when many are stepping back from their sustainability ambitions, Arise IIP remains resolute. ESG is not a layer but is embedded in our DNA. Looking ahead, we will continue to deepen our ESG leadership, scale inclusive industrial ecosystems, and support the next generation of African entrepreneurs. Together with our governments, investors, partners, and teams, we are not just imagining a better future for Africa. With this report, I invite you to explore the progress we have made, the impact we are delivering, and the road ahead. Warm regards, Gagan Gupta CEO, Arise IIP Chief Executive Officer Message from
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