Source: Africa Publicity
The 2026 Africa Forward Summit has kicked off in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya as France announced a €23 billion investment initiative for the African continent.
French President, Emmanuel Macron, said on Monday that the €23 billion investment initiative is targeting clean energy, digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) investments, agriculture and the marine economy across Africa.
The Africa Forward Summit being co-organized by Kenya and France seeks to redefine the relationship between France and Africa by reaffirming Africa’s place in the world. Several African leaders including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria, John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, Joseph Nyuma Boakai of Liberia, Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire, President William Ruto of Kenya, are attending the summit.
According to President Macron, €14 billion of the investment will come from the private and public funds from French entities and €9 billion from African investors.
Macron told the gathering at the Nairobi Convention Centee that “We are not simply here to come and invest on the African continent alongside you – we need the great African business leaders to come and invest in France,” adding that “And that too is what underpins this relationship, now entirely free of hang-ups.”
