Internationality

Country expertise / focus areas

DFIC advises clients worldwide on internationalisation and market development. Our work focuses particularly on the following regions:

Southern Africa
Maghreb region
West Africa
Latin America

We are active internationally – and capable of acting locally.

International markets

The efficient development of international markets plays a decisive role in the age of globalization – as do global sourcing and technology partnerships.

DFIC advises German and international companies in cross-border business development – from internationalization strategy to successful implementation. With many years of experience in international markets, DFIC combines management, energy, and strategy consulting with hands-on implementation expertise.

DFIC has particularly strong market experience in India, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, and the Maghreb region.

anguage skills are a fundamental prerequisite for our international work. Our team speaks German, English, French and Spanish. In addition, intercultural competence is a key success factor in initiating business and building long-term partnerships.

We support you in the preparatory and accompanying phases, both strategically and operationally on site.

Wir sind international aktiv

Germany

DFIC – Your partner for cross-border business with Germany

DFIC specialized in cross-border business between German and foreign companies in the environment and energy sectors.

Market analyses, market entry and development strategies, partner profiling and identification, co-operation structuring and financing consultancy represent the main focus of our consulting activities.

Strategic approach and success-oriented implementation from concept to contract signature - all the required expertise and services from one source. DFIC’s first-hand knowledge of the relevant German market segments as well as our experience with international partners worldwide makes this possible.

South Africa

A Market for Energy Transition Companies, Especially in Energy Efficiency

Political and Energy Policy Framework

Under President Ramaphosa, South Africa has advanced its energy and hydrogen strategy. The updated Integrated Resource Plan (IRP 2025) foresees a total installed capacity of around 95 GW by 2030, with renewable energy expected to account for more than 40% of electricity generation. Coal will remain relevant but decline to below 45%, complemented by gas and nuclear power. By 2030, among others, 11.3 GW of new solar PV and 7.3 GW of wind capacity are planned.

South Africa has largely abolished licensing requirements for private power generation and replaced them with a registration procedure, facilitating projects up to 100 MW and beyond. These reforms promote private investment in renewable energy, gas-fired power plants, and embedded generation for industry and mining. German-South African cooperation with GIZ, KfW, BMWK, and BMUV supports the expansion of green technologies and the hydrogen economy.

Opportunities

South Africa is considered a key country for green hydrogen in Africa and plays a central role in hydrogen, ammonia, and synthetic fuel value chains. German-South African programs such as “H2.SA” and the German-South African Energy Partnership support market development, pilot projects, and investment preparation.

DFIC supports German and African partners in:

Market and feasibility analyses in the hydrogen sector
Strategy development and project planning
Funding advisory services and application support (e.g., GIZ, KfW, EU, BMWK)
Energy efficiency and climate protection

Energy Efficiency and Climate Protection

South Africa aims to improve energy efficiency by 29% by 2030.

In 2018, DFIC conducted a market study on energy efficiency technologies. You can read the summary of the Energy Efficiency Market Study here.

The most promising energy-saving technologies include:

LED / lighting systems
Combined heat, power, and cooling and wastewater gas utilization
Drives and pumps, especially in water and wastewater
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)

Côte d'Ivoire

A Growing Energy Market

Political and Energy Policy Framework

Since the end of the political crisis, Côte d’Ivoire has been one of Africa’s most dynamic economies. Real GDP growth has remained relatively stable between 6% and over 7% per year since 2012; growth of around 6.3% is forecast for 2025. A stable political environment, increased infrastructure investment, and an ambitious reform agenda create an attractive investment climate.

Electricity generation is largely based on gas-fired power plants, supplemented by hydropower and growing shares of biomass and initial solar installations. With rapidly rising electricity demand, the government is increasingly investing in renewable energy expansion and positioning Côte d’Ivoire as an energy hub for West Africa within the West African Power Pool (WAPP).

Energy and Climate Targets

Electrification programs aim to achieve near-universal access by 2030, gradually connecting rural areas and smaller communities either to the grid or via decentralized solutions. The government has announced plans to increase the share of renewable energy (hydro, solar, biomass) in the electricity mix to around 42–45% by 2030, relying heavily on private investment.

Opportunities for Renewables and Efficiency

Self-supply solutions for energy-intensive companies are a priority, particularly in the agro-industry, which has significant biomass potential. Photovoltaics and biomass CHP are considered key technologies for decentralized supply concepts in inland regions and for households.

Germany supports Côte d’Ivoire within climate and reform partnerships in expanding renewable energy and energy efficiency. Programs such as ProFERE, implemented by GIZ, strengthen the regulatory framework and vocational training in the energy sector. In this context, DFIC’s activities in solar energy and energy efficiency in Côte d’Ivoire since 2019 are strategically well positioned.

North Africa / Maghreb

The Maghreb region is strategically important for Germany due to its proximity to the EU and its growth potential in energy and industry. Morocco and Tunisia are among Germany’s key development cooperation partners in the Arab region. In 2022, total pledged public development assistance to the Maghreb amounted to approximately €5–6 billion, of which over €2.2 billion went to Morocco and around €1.8 billion to Tunisia.

Germany is perceived in Morocco and Tunisia as a reliable industrial and technology partner, particularly working with export-oriented SMEs. For German companies, cooperation projects with business associations, German Chambers of Commerce (AHKs), and long-term advisory and qualification programs are particularly relevant to secure market access and networks.

Renewable Energy: Figures and Targets

Morocco already covers around 45–46% of its installed power generation capacity from renewable energy (wind, solar, hydropower) and aims for at least 52% by 2030; new programs even target around 56% by 2027. Several gigawatts of additional wind and solar capacity are planned, with investments in the double-digit billion range (in Moroccan dirham).

Tunisia aims to cover around 30–35% of its electricity mix from renewable energy by 2030, with around 4.3 GW of additional renewable capacity planned. Both countries cooperate closely with Germany in energy and hydrogen partnerships, particularly in wind and solar energy, energy efficiency, and green hydrogen.

Relevance for German Companies

Projects in solar and wind energy, grid expansion, storage solutions, hydrogen, and energy efficiency are particularly attractive for German investors. The German Energy Export Initiative supports companies through business delegation trips, project and market scouting, and advisory services to position German technologies in renewable energy and efficiency solutions in the Maghreb.

DFIC has extensive experience in North Africa, including projects in energy planning, financing, and feasibility studies.

DFIC supports German companies in successful market entry and the implementation of investment projects in the Maghreb.

References

Contact

Are you interested in international energy and climate projects or entering the hydrogen market?

DFIC will be pleased to advise you individually:

DFIC

Kirchfeldstr. 16

45219 Essen

+49 (0)201 878496

info@dfic.de

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