Billionaires Africa has published a new feature profiling 30 Indian and Indian-origin entrepreneurs whose companies have expanded into significant multi-million and billion-dollar operations across the continent. The list opens with Sudhir Ruparelia, the Ugandan businessman whose extensive investments in hospitality, real estate, education, and financial services position him as one of the major Indian-origin figures in African business.
Indian migration into Africa spans more than a century, beginning with trading posts and small shops before expanding into manufacturing, commercial real estate, steel production, agriculture, logistics, retail, and telecoms. Many early families and new-generation entrepreneurs built their companies from modest beginnings into major enterprises operating across multiple African countries. Today, these businesses employ large workforces and influence key sectors in regional economies.
Below is the full list as published by Billionaires Africa, beginning with Sudhir Ruparelia.
1. Sudhir Ruparelia – Uganda
Company: Ruparelia Group
Sudhir Ruparelia leads the Ruparelia Group, one of Uganda’s largest private business conglomerates. His enterprises operate in hospitality, commercial and residential real estate, financial services, agriculture, education and insurance. The group owns and manages hotels, resorts, office buildings, shopping complexes, apartments and schools, forming a substantial part of Kampala’s modern business and property landscape.
2. Sunil Vaswani – Nigeria
Company: Stallion Group
Chairman of Stallion Group, active in agribusiness, vehicle assembly, fisheries, packaging, logistics and steel, with major operations in Nigeria.
3. Vimal Shah – Kenya
Company: Bidco Africa
Co-founder of Bidco Africa, a large FMCG manufacturer supplying edible oils, soaps, detergents and consumer goods across East and Central Africa.
4. Narendra Raval – Kenya
Company: Devki Group
Founder of Devki Group, a leading producer of steel, cement and roofing products in East Africa.
5. Manu Chandaria – Kenya
Company: Comcraft Group
Leader of Comcraft, an industrial group manufacturing steel, aluminium and plastics with factories in several African countries.
6. Chandu Shah – Kenya
Company: AquaSanTec
Founder of AquaSanTec, a supplier of water storage and sanitation solutions across East and Southern Africa.
7. Dhiren Chandaria – Kenya
Company: Ariel Foods / Orbit Chemicals
Owner of Orbit Chemicals and Ariel Foods, supplying contract manufacturing and therapeutic foods for humanitarian organisations.
8. Mayur Madhvani – Uganda
Company: Madhvani Group
Executive of the Madhvani Group, active in sugar production, energy, agriculture, hospitality and security services.
9. Vinay & Ratan Mahtani – Nigeria
Company: Churchgate Group
Developers of major Nigerian real estate and commercial projects, including the World Trade Center Abuja.
10. Ramesh Hathiramani – Nigeria
Company: Dana Group
Founder of Dana Group, with operations in pharmaceuticals, aviation, steel, chemicals and automobile distribution.
11. Amirali “Mukwano” Karmali – Uganda
Company: Mukwano Group
Founder of Mukwano Group, one of Uganda’s largest producers of plastics, edible oils, detergents and related goods.
12. Vivian Reddy – South Africa
Company: Edison Group
Founder of Edison Group, active in electrical engineering, hospitality, casinos and property.
13. Ramesh Valechha – Nigeria
Company: Milan Group
Company with interests in the automotive sector, real estate, hospitality and logistics.
14. Benoy Berry – Nigeria
Company: Contec Global
Developer of digital identity, biometric and security systems for governments and commercial sectors.
15. Raj & Alok Gupta – Nigeria
Company: African Industries Group
A major industrial group producing steel, mining products, chemicals and real estate developments.
16. Ylias Akbaraly – Madagascar
Company: Sipromad Group
Leader of Sipromad, operating in agriculture, hospitality, aviation, pay-TV, utilities and consumer goods.
17. Hassanein Hiridjee – Madagascar
Company: Axian Group
Investment group with holdings in telecoms, banking and energy across Madagascar and the region.
18. Bashir Currimjee – Mauritius
Company: Curimjee Group
Conglomerate active in telecoms, media, real estate, energy, tourism and consumer goods.
19. Rambhai Patel – Kenya
Company: Ramco Group
Industrial group with activities in printing, packaging, steel and office equipment across East Africa.
20. Hargovind & Balkrishnan Gorajia – Rwanda
Company: Akagera Business Group
Company active in vehicle distribution, equipment supply and transportation.
21. Baloobhai Patel – Kenya
Company: Transworld Safaris / NSE Investments
Owner of Transworld Safaris and a major investor in listed Kenyan companies.
22. Sajen Aswani – Singapore / Africa
Company: Tolaram Group
Executive who helped steer Tolaram’s major consumer goods and industrial operations in Nigeria.
23. Haresh Aswani – Singapore / Africa
Company: Tolaram Africa
Oversaw expansion of Tolaram’s African manufacturing facilities and key acquisitions.
24. Savitri Jindal & Family – India / Africa
Company: Jindal Group / Jindal Africa
Operates mining and energy assets in South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana and Namibia.
25. Ashish J. Thakkar – Uganda
Company: Mara Group
Founder of Mara Group, active in technology, real estate, infrastructure and financial services.
26. M. A. Yusuff Ali – India / Africa
Company: LuLu Group
Expanded retail operations into Kenya and Egypt through the LuLu hypermarket network.
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 is featured in the Billionaires Africa list because of the size, diversity, and national influence of the Ruparelia Group, which is one of Uganda’s largest private business networks. His companies operate across major sectors including real estate, hospitality, financial services, education, agriculture and insurance. Through developments such as hotels, commercial properties, residential apartments and mixed-use complexes, he has played a significant role in shaping Kampala’s modern urban landscape. The scale of these investments, combined with the group’s contribution to employment and the expansion of key service industries, places him among the Indian-origin entrepreneurs with substantial business footprints in Africa.
