• Written by Editorial Team
• December 25, 2025
• 4 minutes

The Global South’s Quiet Economic Surge — While the World Wasn’t Looking

While much of the global news cycle is slowed by the holiday season, something remarkable has been unfolding beneath the radar: the Global South is ending 2025 with real, measurable economic wins.

From currency strength and inflation control to trade breakthroughs and digital leapfrogging, the data — and market reactions — tell a powerful story of resilience, reform, and rising influence.

Here’s AI TV INFO’s roundup of the most compelling positive economic developments reported or actively discussed in the past 24 hours.

 AFRICA: Stability, Growth & Resource Momentum

🇿🇦 South Africa: Currency Confidence Returns

On December 24, 2025, South Africa’s rand climbed to its strongest level since August 2022, buoyed by surging gold and platinum prices and inflation falling to 3.5%.
Johannesburg’s Top-40 index also advanced, reinforcing investor optimism.

Why it matters:
A stronger rand lowers import costs, eases inflation pressure, and signals renewed confidence in Africa’s most industrialized economy — even as many developed markets struggle.

🇰🇪 Kenya: Macro Stability Pays Off

Kenya is seeing a rare alignment of positives:

• Improved food security

• Lower inflation

• Reduced fuel prices

• A more stable currency

• Upgraded credit outlook

Together, these trends are strengthening household resilience and investor confidence.

East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia): A Regional Standout

The sub-region is now projected to grow 5.9%, making it one of the fastest-expanding economic zones globally, driven by:

• Stable public finances

• Controlled inflation

• Sustained infrastructure and services growth

🇨🇩 DR Congo: Cobalt Exports Resume

After a 10-month suspension, the Democratic Republic of Congo has resumed cobalt exports — a major boost for:

• Government revenues

• Mining employment

• Global EV supply chains

In a world racing toward electrification, this move re-anchors the DRC as a strategic player.

LATIN AMERICA: Quiet Consistency

🇺🇾 Uruguay: Steady Growth in a Volatile Region

Uruguay’s Economy Minister confirmed 2.3% growth for 2025, signaling stability and prudent policy management amid broader regional uncertainty.

 ASIA: Scale, Speed & Structural Reform

🇮🇳 India: A Landmark Economic Year

India continues to post strong momentum:

• Robust GDP growth

• Major reforms in taxes, labor, and regulation

• 114,000+ startups generating 1.2 million jobs

• Over 4,500 industrial parks mapped

• ₹2,500 crore (US$301 million) invested in plug-and-play manufacturing

A new Free Trade Agreement with New Zealand promises zero-duty access for Indian exports and US$20 billion in new investments.

🇮🇩 Indonesia: Strategic Trade Leverage

Indonesia is preparing to sign a new tariff deal with the United States (expected January), securing:

• Preferential access tied to critical minerals

• Exemptions for key exports like palm oil and coffee

This strengthens Indonesia’s role in global supply chains without sacrificing domestic priorities.

MIDDLE EAST: Demographic Advantage

🇮🇶 Kurdistan Region (Iraq): A Young Workforce Dividend

A newly released national census shows a high proportion of working-age citizens, positioning the region for:

• Long-term productivity growth

• Job creation

• Demographic-driven economic expansion

GLOBAL SIGNALS: Confidence Is Shifting

📈 Emerging Market Credit Outlook Improves

According to S&P Global, sovereign ratings upgrades are now outpacing downgrades, including improvements for:

• Pakistan

• Kenya

• Sri Lanka

• Lebanon

Why it matters:
Better credit outlooks reduce borrowing costs, unlock capital, and stabilize growth trajectories.

Technology & Markets: Momentum Accelerates

Recent macro reports show:

• Emerging market cloud spending growing twice as fast as in advanced economies

• Equity performance narrowing gaps with the Global North

• Digital adoption becoming a primary GDP driver, not a side story

Countries like Pakistan and Vietnam are being cited as prime examples of digital leapfrogging at scale.

G20 AFRICA: A Shift in the Global Agenda

Final reports from the South Africa-hosted G20 Summit (released late Dec 24 / early Dec 25) confirm a turning point:

• Debt Sustainability: New frameworks focused on development financing, not perpetual aid

• Digital Public Infrastructure: South-South knowledge sharing reduces reliance on Western tech monopolies

• Critical Minerals: Agreements ensure producer nations retain more value from EV supply chains

🌱 GREEN & BLUE ECONOMY WINS

Fresh funding unlocked this week:

• US$67 million from UNDP & GEF for immediate projects

• South Africa: Biodiversity conservation tied to community-led green jobs

• Fiji: Launch of a new Blue Economy research compound to support sustainable marine tourism and fisheries

🧠The AI TV INFO Channel Perspective

While headlines fixate on slowdowns in advanced economies, the evidence is increasingly clear:

• 💱 Currency gains reflect investor trust

• 📊 Credit upgrades signal fiscal discipline

• 🌐 Digital leapfrogging is reshaping growth models

• 🤝 South-South cooperation is rewriting global economics

The Global South isn’t just recovering — it’s recalibrating the global balance of growth.

And as 2025 closes, one thing is certain:
The next chapter of the global economy is being written far beyond the usual headlines.

— AI TV INFO

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