Delegates at the ongoing FT Africa Summit/HANDOUT
Top policy makers in Africa are meeting in the UK to frame how the continent is discussed in the global economic
narrative at the annual Financial Times Africa Summit.
This year’s theme,
“Africa in a Changing World,” reflects the opportunities and uncertainties
shaping the continent’s next phase of growth at a time the world is
witnessing a major shift in alliances, constrained capital markets, and rapid
technological transformation.
The first day’s sessions explored
Africa’s evolving position within the global landscape, with conversations
centering on deepening trade relations, acceleration of energy transition and leveraging
technological innovation.
Policymakers, investors, and business leaders
will assess how the continent is reshaping its international partnerships,
balancing fossil fuel development with renewable energy investment.
Standout sessions during the two-day event include South Africa’s G20 and US–Africa relations in Donald Trump’s regime.
“Together, these
discussions frame Africa’s evolving role in global governance and its efforts
to assert greater influence on international decision-making.”
The summit opened with
welcome remarks from Bernard Mensah, President of International for Bank of
America.
His address set the
tone for two days of high-level dialogue by framing the continent’s economic
trajectory within broader global financial shifts.
Now in its twelfth
edition, the FT Africa Summit continues to be the continent’s most influential
forum for framing how Africa is discussed in the global economic narrative.
Beyond policy debates,
it is a space where investment signals, strategic alliances, and actionable
solutions emerge.
This year’s edition
carries added weight as Africa navigates inflationary pressures, digital
disruption, and climate adaptation simultaneously.
The summit aims to move beyond rhetoric to define what practical collaboration looks like between governments, investors, and innovators.
The forum is addressing how the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, International Finance Corporation, and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development are collaborating under the Mission 300 initiative to expand energy access across Africa by leveraging innovative financing mechanisms to attract private investment, drive job creation, enhance local economies, and advance broader sustainable development goals.
Other themes are AI and Infrastructure, checking on how investments from global players like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon can position Africa as the next frontier for AI-driven growth.
