Following a recent trend of declining trade activity, the United Kingdom has the opportunity to reset its relationship with African countries, which are growing rapidly and represent a sizeable proportion of the global economy of the future. While forging new international connections, African countries are undergoing rapid economic growth and technological advancement with an emerging middle class and a sizeable demographic dividend. The UK’s leadership in sectors such as financial services, technology and clean energy ensure it can be a reliable and important trade and investment partner for those countries.

This session will bring together trade and investment leaders across the UK and Africa to explore trends and development that will shape the future of its trade partnership.

Conversations on this opening session will seek to achieve:

• Economic opportunities in critical minerals, green technology, the digital economy, and the finance and creative sectors.
• Trade in strategic areas and where growth has lagged through support for the realisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) single market.
• Targeted investment to capitalise on strong UK performance in foreign direct investment (FDI) and diversified investment flows.

While $95 billion in investment projects are underway in liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals, only $53 billion is being invested in developing gas-fired power plants. Eager to capitalize on soaring prices, many African countries are adapting national energy development plans to meet international demand, particularly from Europe. How can Africa balance the need for universal access to electricity (52% of sub-Saharan Africans still lack electricity) with the windfall of export revenues?

Conversations on this session will explore the underlisted focus areas:

• Financing: How to bridge the funding gap for domestic projects?
• Electricity market reforms, regional cooperation, small-scale projects: How to develop gas infrastructure?
• Building local content while remaining cost-effective: a delicate but necessary balance

The investment landscape in Africa has demonstrated gradual improvement after a difficult period, with growth forecasts projected to reach 6% in 2025. While Africa is often lauded for its massive investment potential and touted as the last frontier for global growth, the continent continues to receive less attention by investors. In a global financial landscape with over $10 trillion in negative yield bonds and private equity funds holding nearly one trillion dollars, investors are on the look out for new markets for sustainable returns.

Conversations on this session will target the underlisted focus areas:

• What specific trends will attract private capital into Africa?
• What legal and regulatory frameworks can African governments create to attract and retain international investment in infrastructure projects?
• How can African countries strike a balance between attracting foreign investment and ensuring local ownership and participation in infrastructure development?
• What are the most promising financing options for large-scale infrastructure projects in Africa, beyond traditional public financing?
• Local currency: How do we mobilise the vast local currency resources on the continent - International investors: What are they looking for in local equity and financing partners?

The Creative Industries are at the center of Africa’s cultural renaissance, emerging as a catalyst for growth and a source of employment for Africa’s innovative, dynamic, and youthful population. In Africa, the Creative Industries generate $4.2 billion annually but have a limited share in the global market. A long history of inadequate funding, weak regulations, and infrastructural challenges has stunted growth, hampering its significant untapped potential. What role can the private sector play in fostering the growth of Africa’s creative sectors, and how can these solutions address complex development challenges in the region? This session will harmonise players from across private organizations, including sector experts from film, fashion, animation, gaming, and creators’ economy from across Africa, to share perspectives and contribute to an informed discussion on the topic.

Discussion points:

• What scalable solutions can we adopt to grow Africa’s share of the global Creative Industries market, and what sectors hold a comparative advantage for the region?
• What innovative funding models can help creative businesses attract long-term financing and move past survival mode?
• What type of innovative partnerships can we develop to overcome the existing gaps in the African creative value chain?

This session will be exploring the realities of the funding landscape in Africa, highlighting the forces driving the perceived slowdown and how startups can navigate the current climate.

• How can startups adjust their pitches and fundraising strategies to resonate with more cautious investors?
• What opportunities or silver linings might emerge from the current funding climate for founders and investors alike?
• Should established startups consider scaling back operations or pivoting their strategies in response to the funding slowdown?
• ⁠What advice would you give to early-stage founders trying to secure funding in this environment?
• There has been a debate on whether African startups should raise in local currency?
• What is your take and do you think it will augment the funding downturn?

This session will explore strategies for the inclusive and sustainable development of Fintech in Africa, with keen interest in cross-border payments and the role the industry will play in AFCTA. This panel will bring together leaders across various elements of Africa's fintech.

• What are the gaps in the cross-border payment space today? How can fintech companies collaborate better with traditional financial institutions and regulators to solve them?
• Beyond payments, what other areas of cross-border financial services hold immense potential for growth and impact in Africa?
• How do we ensure compliance with financial regulations and anti-money laundering measures in Africa's fintech landscape, particularly as the industry continues to evolve?