France has intensified efforts to strengthen its economic and strategic partnership with Africa, with more than 2,000 African and European business leaders, investors and policymakers gathering in Nairobi, Kenya, for the 2026 Africa Forward Inspire and Connect Business Summit.
The high-level summit, holding from May 11 to May 12, 2026, is jointly organised by the governments of France and Kenya under the theme: “Africa Forward: Partnerships between Africa and France for Innovation and Growth.”
Speaking at the summit, Jean-Noel Barrot, France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, said the French government was repositioning its relationship with African countries toward a more balanced and mutually beneficial economic partnership aimed at accelerating innovation, industrial development and sustainable growth across the continent.
According to Barrot, France’s renewed Africa engagement strategy under the leadership of Emmanuel Macron over the last decade has led to expanded cooperation across critical sectors including Green Tech, Artificial Intelligence (AI), healthcare, culture and industrial development.
He noted that France had strengthened bilateral partnerships with countries including Benin, Mauritius, Nigeria, Angola and Kenya.
“We have created new bonds and expanded cooperation in sectors such as Green Tech, Artificial Intelligence, health, culture and industry,” Barrot said.
The French minister described Africa as a major force in shaping the future global economy, stressing that the continent was already driving innovation, entrepreneurship and cultural influence worldwide.
“We believe in Africa not only as the continent of the future, but as a continent already shaping global culture and driving the global economy,” he said.
Barrot added that Africa possessed the innovation capacity and entrepreneurial potential needed to thrive in the 21st century, predicting that many of the world’s leading ideas and start-ups would emerge from the continent.
The summit also featured strong calls for improved investment structures and policy coordination to unlock Africa’s economic potential.
Speaking during the event, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Executive Chairman and Founder of BUA Group, said Africa’s biggest challenge was not a lack of opportunities but inadequate coordinated execution and limited access to long-term financing.
Rabiu stressed that Africa must shift from being primarily a consumer-driven economy to becoming a continent capable of creating and sustaining industrial growth through strategic investments and private-sector-led development.
“One thing is clear: Africa does not lack potential; it lacks coordinated execution and long-term capital support,” he said.
According to him, inconsistent government policies across parts of the continent continue to discourage investment and weaken investor confidence, thereby slowing industrial and infrastructure development.
“When the private sector is empowered, it delivers, and when partnerships are built on execution, transformation happens,” Rabiu stated.
The BUA Group founder also highlighted his experience building industries and infrastructure projects across difficult operating environments in Africa while creating jobs and supporting millions of consumers.
Also speaking at the summit, Phillip Gautier, Chief Executive Officer of MEDEF International, said the growing partnership between Africa, France and Europe was increasingly being driven by entrepreneurship, innovation and shared economic growth.
Gautier disclosed that French companies currently provide more than 530,000 direct jobs across Africa, representing a 30 per cent increase over the past decade through local investments and long-term partnerships across the continent.
The Africa Forward Summit is expected to further strengthen investment conversations around technology, infrastructure, energy transition, manufacturing, sustainability and industrial collaboration between African nations and European partners.
