• Written by Editorial Team
• December 22, 2025
• 3 minutes

The Economic Shift the Headlines Missed: Why the Global South Is Gaining Momentum Right Now

AI TV INFO Channel | Global South Economic Watch — December 22, 2025

While global news cycles remain dominated by trade tensions, inflation worries, and slowing growth in advanced economies, a quieter but powerful economic shift is unfolding across the Global South.

In the past few days alone, new data and developments point to resilience, renewed confidence, and structural strength across Africa, Asia, and Latin America — often with little international attention.

Here’s what the world is not being shown.

Trade Tensions Ease — Global South Exporters Get Breathing Room

A rare softening in protectionism brought immediate relief to Global South exporters as the U.S. administration expanded tariff exemptions for key products.

Who benefits:

• Latin America: Argentina, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Ecuador secured exemptions or targeted trade deals

• Key exports: Beef, coffee, and specialty agricultural products

For small-scale farmers and exporters across South America and Africa, lower barriers mean higher revenues and improved market access.

The impact is measurable:
The U.S. effective tariff rate dropped from 17.9% to 16.8%, signaling a notable — if temporary — shift in a year dominated by trade friction.

Historic $11 Billion African Development Fund Replenishment

On December 16, a record-breaking $11 billion was mobilized for the African Development Fund (ADF-17), with implementation details finalized over the weekend.

What makes this historic:

• African countries contributed in record numbers, marking a shift toward continental ownership

• Funds are fast-tracked for 2026–2028 projects in 37 low-income countries

Where the money goes:

• Clean energy expansion in Somalia

• Food security programs in Tanzania

• Infrastructure and resilience across vulnerable economies

This is not aid dependency — it is Africa co-financing its own development future.

South–South Trade Hits Record Growth

New data released within the last 48 hours shows that while global trade is “fracturing,” South–South trade expanded by roughly 8% in 2025.

• Growth outperformed traditional North–South trade routes

• East Asia and Africa were the strongest drivers

Developing economies are building resilient supply chains among themselves, reducing exposure to Western volatility and redefining global trade flows.

South Africa Emerges as a Financial Standout

South Africa delivered one of the strongest market performances globally this year:

• The FTSE/JSE Top 40 index outperformed the MSCI Emerging Markets Index by ~30%

• Over R129 billion in net bond inflows were recorded in 2025

• Household net wealth continued rising as asset values outpaced liabilities

Add to that:

• A stronger rand, supported by high gold prices and a weaker U.S. dollar

• Fixed investment picking up for the first time in a year

Together, these signal domestic stabilization and investor confidence.

Asia’s Growth Engines Keep Running

Despite global uncertainty:

• 🇻🇳 Vietnam is accelerating toward its year-end growth target, building on 8%+ growth earlier in 2025

• 🇮🇩 Indonesia maintains 5% growth, driven by investment and net exports

• 🇮🇳 India continues anchoring South Asia’s momentum into 2026

Emerging Asia remains one of the most stable growth pillars in the global economy.

Africa’s Resource Economies Show Structural Strength

Across Southern and West Africa, mining developments point to long-term fiscal resilience:

• 🇳🇦 Namibia: Tax revenues from gold and uranium surged, overtaking diamonds — a major diversification win

• 🇲🇱 Mali: Barrick Mining resumed operations after a $430 million settlement, restoring production and investor confidence

These moves strengthen government budgets, support jobs, and signal improving investment frameworks.
Source: Reuters

Optimism Returns to Emerging Markets

According to the latest McKinsey Global Survey, released mid-December:

For the first time in 2025, executives in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East are more optimistic than pessimistic about the next six months.

This “optimism spike” stands in sharp contrast to sentiment in many advanced economies.

🔍 AI TV INFO Channel’s Perspective

These stories point to a clear pattern:

• 🌍 Trade is re-routing, not collapsing

• 💰 Investment is flowing to fundamentals, not hype

• 🪙 Resources are being leveraged more strategically

• 📈 Confidence is rising where reforms and resilience meet

The Global South isn’t immune to global shocks —
but it is adapting faster, integrating deeper, and building forward.

This is not a future projection.
It is happening now.

And AI TV INFO will continue to spotlight the progress, data, and decisions shaping tomorrow’s global economy — especially when they don’t dominate the headlines.

🧠📺 AI TV INFO Channel is Rewriting the economic narrative

📣 Follow and subscribe AI TV INFO for more positive, balanced, and future-focused global stories.

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