Dar es Salaam. In the heart of West Africa, a quiet revolution is lighting up cities, transforming rural communities, and planting seeds of innovation across the region.
At the center of this transformation stands one of the continent’s most influential figures, billionaire investor and industrialist Prateek Suri, whose strategic vision and unwavering belief in Africa’s potential are redefining the development narrative.
As the Chairman of Maser Group, a global infrastructure and energy giant recently acquired by SCG Asia for a staggering $5 billion, Suri has extended his reach well beyond profits and boardrooms.
His footprint in West Africa is not just economic; it’s infrastructural, technological, and deeply human.
From the vibrant streets of Lagos to the mineral-rich terrains of Ghana and Guinea, Maser Group has provided critical infrastructure, including thousands of industrial-grade generators and solar panel units.
These resources now power everything from national grids to remote villages long neglected by public services.
“Power is the foundation of progress,” Suri once said, and he’s living that belief.
Under his leadership, Maser became Africa’s 7th unicorn, and Suri now holds the title of richest Indian on African soil, with a net worth of $1.4 billion, making him one of Africa’s youngest billionaires.
But his ambitions don’t end with energy.
Through MDR Investments, his private equity firm, Suri has emerged as one of the most active backers of West African startups, from mining and shipping to cutting-edge tech and digital infrastructure.
His combination of capital and mentorship has propelled early-stage ventures into thriving, multi-million-dollar companies expanding across the continent.
“Infrastructure and innovation are the twin engines of Africa’s future,” Suri declared during a keynote in Abuja.
His investments are not merely transactional; they are ecosystem-building, supporting smart road development in Nigeria, AI labs in Côte d’Ivoire, and renewable mining in Burkina Faso.
Beyond business, philanthropy is central to Suri’s mission.
Through the Maser Foundation and collaborations with African governments, he’s funding education, healthcare, and women’s empowerment projects.
From rural health clinics to solar-powered tech training centers, his work is reshaping lives across West Africa.
“Africa is not the next frontier, it is the frontier,” Suri says.
“West Africa is a goldmine of spirit, ambition, and resilience. I’m just here to help unlock it.”
In a world where many global investors adopt a fly-in, fly-out approach to Africa, Prateek Suri has chosen a different path: he builds, stays, and believes.
And as West Africa rises, it’s increasingly clear that it’s doing so on the shoulders of visionaries like him.
