• Written by Editorial Team
• December 28, 2025
• 5 minutes

The World Is Missing This: The Global South Is Quietly Winning the Economic Game

AI TV INFO Channel | Global Economy | December 28, 2025

While headlines remain fixated on slowdown fears in advanced economies, a very different story is unfolding across the Global South. From Africa to Asia and Latin America, infrastructure wins, currency strength, trade breakthroughs, and policy reforms are generating real economic momentum — much of it underreported.

Here’s what the data, deals, and developments from the past 48 hours and recent days actually show.

Recent Economic Highlights (Last 48 Hours)

🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | Local Infrastructure, Real Economic Impact

Improvements in traffic flow at Zimbabwe’s Trabalalas interchange are already easing congestion and improving mobility for commuters and businesses.
While localized, this type of infrastructure upgrade directly supports commerce, productivity, and social outcomes — the building blocks of economic resilience.

🇿🇦 South Africa | Rand Strengthens on Export & Commodity Boost

The South African rand strengthened modestly against the U.S. dollar, supported by rising gold and platinum prices.
This reflects improving investor sentiment, stronger export inflows, and growing confidence in South Africa’s commodity-driven economy.

📌 Why it matters: Currency strength lowers import costs, eases inflation pressure, and signals macro stability — especially critical during global uncertainty.

🇮🇳 India | Growth Holds Strong, Inflation Stays Subdued

New central bank data shows India’s economy remained resilient in November, driven by strong consumption demand and a solid quarterly GDP performance.
Fiscal-year growth forecasts were revised upward, while inflation stayed contained — reinforcing India’s position as a standout emerging-market performer.

🇮🇳India – 🇳🇿New Zealand | Trade Breakthrough

India and New Zealand finalized a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) expected to significantly expand market access, trade volumes, and investment flows.
The deal is a clear win for Indian exporters and highlights growing South–South and Indo-Pacific economic integration.

Africa–Europe | Major Trade Infrastructure Push

Under the EU’s Global Gateway initiative, renewed momentum is building behind the Lobito Corridor — a strategic rail link connecting Zambia and Angola’s resource-rich regions to export routes.
This transcontinental infrastructure project is set to boost African trade integration, logistics efficiency, and regional growth.

Policy Reforms & Recovery Narratives

• Argentina recorded its first budget surplus in over a decade, with inflation falling sharply.

• Nigeria’s subsidy reforms stabilized public finances, enabling investment in roads, education, and healthcare.

• Analysts caution that progress remains uneven, but the direction of travel is clear: structural reform is delivering results.

Wider Positive Trends Across the Global South

While not all developments fall strictly within a 48-hour window, recent data confirms durable momentum:

✔️ Africa’s medium-term growth outlook is improving through 2026 and beyond, supported by regional integration such as AfCFTA
Source: Africa Renewal

✔️ Southeast Asia is outperforming global averages, with projected 2025 growth around 4.4%, reflecting its expanding role in global trade

✔️ South–South trade and renewable energy markets are expanding faster than global averages, creating new jobs and export opportunities

🏗️ Infrastructure & Financing Breakthroughs

Across the Global South, financing bottlenecks are easing:

• Côte d’Ivoire: Debt refinancing has reduced fiscal pressure, freeing capital for development

• Egypt: Financing secured for Africa’s largest solar park, expanding renewable capacity and job creation

• Bangladesh: New rural roads have improved market access, safety, and local commerce

• Brazil: Farmers are adopting conservation agriculture technologies that boost productivity sustainably

These initiatives reflect a broader shift toward risk mitigation, long-term planning, and productive investment.

Trade & Investment Partnerships: A South–South Shift

China’s engagement with the Global South continues to emphasize long-term infrastructure, energy, healthcare, and education investments.
Experts — including Professor Dan Banik (University of Oslo) — reject “debt-trap diplomacy” narratives, citing lack of empirical evidence and pointing instead to tangible development outcomes.

In Latin America, South–South cooperation through debt swaps, blended finance, and joint procurement is strengthening resilient value chains.

Uruguay stands out, supported by political stability and growth in tech, energy, and tourism — including Google’s $850M data center investment.

🌾 Sector-Specific Growth: Agriculture & Manufacturing

Agriculture

• Cocoa production surges in West Africa, raising farmer incomes

• Food system transformations in India, Bhutan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka improve resilience

• Argentina’s logistics and export reforms support grain shipments to Asia, Africa, and the Middle East

Manufacturing

• India cut logistics costs to 8% of GDP and reduced energy prices by 15%

• Major investments from global manufacturers follow, supporting FX stability and job creation

• Border infrastructure since 2020 has fueled a Himalayan jobs boom and strong GDP growth

Community-Driven & Social Impact with Economic Spillovers

• UNFPA programs in Afghanistan empower youth and women with business skills

• Maternal health improvements in Zambia and Panama reduce productivity losses

• Conservation efforts in India (Kerala) and climate-adaptive livelihoods in Senegal support long-term economic resilience

🏆 Global Changemakers Spotlight

On December 12, 2025, the HRH Princess Belle Rachel Foundation launched the Global Changemakers Prizes, funding social entrepreneurs (ages 18–45) across emerging economies to:

• Create jobs

• Scale community solutions

• Support inclusive economic participation

The foundation is also backing sustainable water management initiatives that enhance biodiversity, support agriculture, mitigate drought risks, and empower local communities — fully aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

📈 Fresh Macroeconomic Signals (Dec 26–27, 2025)

Regional Growth & Inflation

• Developing Asia: Inflation easing to 1.6% in 2025, driven by lower food inflation in India

• Southeast Asia: Growth outlook revised up to 4.5%

• Caucasus & Central Asia: Growth upgraded to 5.8%, led by Kazakhstan

Strategic Agreements

• Iraq & UN: Signed a 2025–2029 Sustainable Development Framework focused on jobs, diversification, and green energy

• Uganda: World Bank highlights 6.3% GDP growth, driven by agro-industrialization

Green Energy

• Clean energy now accounts for 10%+ of China’s GDP

• Mission 300 (World Bank + AfDB) met year-one targets to electrify 300 million Africans by 2030, with new private funding unlocked

Click to watch the hidden growth giants on YouTube.👍You Won’t See This on the Evening News 👀 – YouTube

The AI TV INFO Channel Perspective

While the Global North averages ~1.5–1.8% growth, the Global South is contributing nearly 65% of global economic growth.

What we’re seeing is not a short-term rebound — it’s a structural shift:

• Infrastructure over speculation

• Trade over aid

• Productivity over promises

In the final days of 2025, the evidence is clear:

• Infrastructure is moving

• Trade corridors are opening

• Inflation is easing

• Investment confidence is returning

🔚 Bottom Line

The Global South is not “catching up.”
It is re-architecting the global economy — quietly, strategically, and increasingly on its own terms.

📺 AI TV INFO will continue tracking the wins others overlook.

The Global South is not waiting for permission to grow — it is building, trading, reforming, and advancing in real time.

This isn’t hype.
It’s data.
And it’s happening now.

📡The AI TV INFO channel is tracking the stories shaping the future before they trend.

📺 AI TV INFO stays ahead of the narrative.