A new report by Billionaires Africa has profiled 30 Indian and Indian-origin entrepreneurs whose companies have grown into major multi-million and billion-dollar enterprises across Africa. The feature opens with Ugandan tycoon Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia, underscoring the scale and reach of his businesses within Uganda’s private sector.
Indian business communities have been part of Africa’s commercial landscape for over a century. They began with small trading businesses and supply outlets before gradually moving into larger industries. Over the years, many of these enterprises expanded into manufacturing, agriculture, property development, steel, logistics, finance, telecommunications and retail. Today, companies founded by Indian families and entrepreneurs are key players in economies across East, West, Southern and the Indian Ocean regions of Africa.
The Billionaires Africa feature lists each entrepreneur alongside their major companies, beginning with Dr. Ruparelia.
1. Sudhir Ruparelia – Uganda
Company: Ruparelia Group
Dr. Sudhir leads one of Uganda’s most prominent private business conglomerates. The Ruparelia Group operates across hospitality, commercial and residential real estate, insurance, financial services, education, agriculture and floriculture. The Group’s portfolio includes major hotels, resorts, office towers, apartment buildings, shopping malls and top-tier private schools—assets that significantly shape Kampala’s modern property and service sectors.
2. Sunil Vaswani – Nigeria
Company: Stallion Group
Chairman of Stallion Group, with operations in agriculture, automotive assembly, packaging, fisheries, steel and logistics.
3. Vimal Shah – Kenya
Company: Bidco Africa
Co-founder of Bidco, a leading FMCG manufacturer in East and Central Africa.
4. Narendra Raval – Kenya
Company: Devki Group
Founder of a major producer of steel, cement and roofing materials.
5. Manu Chandaria – Kenya
Company: Comcraft Group
Head of a multinational industrial conglomerate producing steel, aluminium and plastics.
6. Chandu Shah – Kenya
Company: AquaSanTec
Founder of a major supplier of water tanks and sanitation solutions.
7. Dhiren Chandaria – Kenya
Company: Orbit Chemicals / Ariel Foods
Operator of leading chemical manufacturing and therapeutic food production businesses.
8. Mayur Madhvani – Uganda
Company: Madhvani Group
Key executive in a conglomerate active in sugar production, energy, agriculture and hospitality.
9. Vinay & Ratan Mahtani – Nigeria
Company: Churchgate Group
Developers behind major commercial real estate projects including the World Trade Center Abuja.
10. Ramesh Hathiramani – Nigeria
Company: Dana Group
Founder of a 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 and household consumer products.
12. Vivian Reddy – South Africa
Company: Edison Group
Founder of a diversified group in electrical engineering, hospitality and real estate.
13. Ramesh Valechha – Nigeria
Company: Milan Group
Active in automobiles, real estate, hospitality and logistics.
14. Benoy Berry – Nigeria
Company: Contec Global
Developer of biometric and identity-management technologies.
15. Raj & Alok Gupta – Nigeria
Company: African Industries Group
Producers of steel, chemicals, mining products and real estate developments.
16. Ylias Akbaraly – Madagascar
Company: Sipromad Group
A major player in agriculture, hospitality, aviation, utilities and consumer goods.
17. Hassanein Hiridjee – Madagascar
Company: Axian Group
A leading investment group in telecoms, banking and energy.
18. Bashir Currimjee – Mauritius
Company: Curimjee Group
Operating across telecoms, media, real estate, tourism, energy and retail.
19. Rambhai Patel – Kenya
Company: Ramco Group
Active in printing, packaging, steel and office supplies.
20. Hargovind & Balkrishnan Gorajia – Rwanda
Company: Akagera Business Group
Major distributors of vehicles, machinery and transport solutions.
21. Baloobhai Patel – Kenya
Company: Transworld Safaris / NSE
Owner of Transworld Safaris and a notable equities investor.
22. Sajen Aswani – Singapore / Africa
Company: Tolaram Group
Executive at a major consumer goods and industrial zone developer in Nigeria.
23. Haresh Aswani – Singapore / Africa
Company: Tolaram Africa
Oversaw manufacturing expansion and strategic acquisitions for the group.
24. Savitri Jindal & Family – India / Africa
Company: Jindal Group / Jindal Africa
Operators of large mining and energy projects across Southern Africa.
25. Ashish J. Thakkar – Uganda
Company: Mara Group
Founder of a group active in technology, real estate and finance.
26. M. A. Yusuff Ali – India / Africa
Company: LuLu Group
Expanded LuLu’s retail footprint 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’s Influence in Context
Dr. Sudhir appears prominently on the Billionaires Africa list due to the size, diversity and economic impact of the Ruparelia Group. His investments across real estate, hospitality, education, agriculture and finance have shaped Kampala’s growth, created jobs and strengthened key industries. Through hotels, commercial properties, residential towers, mixed-use developments and private learning institutions, his group continues to play a central role in Uganda’s economic development.
