Luanda to host Africa’s largest Infrastructure Financing Summit

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According to a press release from the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and the African Union Commission (AUC), in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Angola, under the AU Chairmanship, Africa will convene its largest-ever infrastructure financing summit from 28–31 October 2025, in Luanda.

The Heads of State-Level Infrastructure Financing Summit is set to be the continent’s premier platform for mobilising investments and partnerships to advance Africa’s infrastructure agenda under the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA).

The Summit builds on the momentum of previous editions, notably the 2023 Dakar Infrastructure Financing Summit, and responds to a pressing need where Africa faces an annual infrastructure financing gap exceeding $100 billion, while implementation of the Continental Power Systems Master Plan for an African Single Electricity Market requires $1.3 trillion by 2040.

PIDA itself demands $16 billion annually to deliver transformative, cross-border infrastructure that drives industrialisation, trade, and energy access across the continent by 2030.

The Chairperson of the African Union, H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of Angola, has prioritised infrastructure financing at the heart of his continental agenda.

Speaking at the AU Commission Handover Ceremony in March 2025, President Lourenço noted, “Infrastructure is one of the essential pillars of the African Union's Agenda 2063. We must mobilise all available financial resources to achieve our goals, from roads and railways to ports, power lines, and digital networks. I have called on the Commission to convene a continental infrastructure conference in 2025 to drive investment and connect Africa for trade, innovation, and prosperity.”

The Luanda Summit will provide a dynamic platform for deal rooms and investment pitch sessions, allowing African governments and institutions to showcase infrastructure portfolios to potential investors.

Strategic regional corridors such as the Lobito Corridor, LAPSSET, and the Dakar–Bamako–Djibouti route will be presented as integrated models linking infrastructure, trade, and industrial development.

The Summit also aims to catalyse capital commitments for power generation and transmission, logistics hubs, and digital infrastructure, creating pathways for continental connectivity.

A central theme of the Summit is Africa’s quest for universal energy access. Discussions will focus on PIDA Energy Projects, the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM), and the Continental Power Systems Master Plan, targeting solutions for the more than 600 million Africans without electricity.

Additionally, the event will explore co-investment opportunities with philanthropic organisations and climate-aligned capital, particularly in underserved regions, building on the Nairobi Roadmap adopted by AUDA-NEPAD, the African Union Commission, the Trade and Development Bank, and the African Development Bank.

The Summit coincides with the PIDA Mid-Term Review, a milestone event that will assess progress and provide strategic guidance for the second half of the PIDA PAP 2 cycle.

Discussions will emphasise project preparation and early-stage support through AUDA-NEPAD’s Service Delivery Mechanism (SDM), enabling countries to fast-track investment-ready infrastructure projects.

Beyond physical infrastructure, the Luanda Summit will examine digital infrastructure, fintech, and artificial intelligence, exploring how these technologies can enhance planning, financial inclusion, and industrial development under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Water security and climate adaptation will also feature prominently, with attention to sustainable financing for transboundary water management projects.

Domestic capital mobilisation will be a major focus, with the Summit exploring innovative mechanisms to leverage over $70 billion in African pension and sovereign wealth funds annually. Discussions will include public-private partnerships, blended finance, project bonds, and risk mitigation tools to unlock long-term investment in strategic infrastructure.

The Summit also positions Africa to play a proactive role on the global stage. Under South Africa’s G20 Presidency in 2025, the event will contribute to global dialogues on infrastructure financing, energy access, and climate-aligned investment, while showcasing investment-ready green projects across transport, energy, digital, and water sectors.

Registration for the Luanda Infrastructure Financing Summit, including opportunities to showcase projects and engage with organisers, will open in the coming weeks. Further details on participation, side events, and exhibition platforms will be available on the official event page.

For media inquiries, contact Ms. Zipporah Maubane (AUDA-NEPAD), Ms. Bezayit Eyoel (AUC), Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar (AUC), or Ms. Ayanda Siswana (Flow Communications).