The African Trade & Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI) on Tuesday opened its 26th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Nairobi, Kenya, marking 25 years of operations as African leaders, policymakers and investors gather to explore ways of unlocking investment, reducing financing costs and strengthening the continent's development finance ecosystem.
Since its establishment, the institution has facilitated more than US$93 billion in investments across strategic sectors of African economies, underscoring its growing role in supporting trade, investment and economic transformation across the continent.
The four-day meeting, running from June 30 to July 3 under the theme "Empowering Africa: Risk Managed, Growth Unlocked," comes at a critical time as African economies seek to attract greater investment amid tightening global financial conditions, rising debt burdens and widening infrastructure financing gaps.
Discussions are expected to focus on how African-led development finance institutions and innovative risk mitigation mechanisms can mobilise capital, lower borrowing costs and accelerate sustainable economic growth across the continent.
This year's AGM also marks a major milestone for ATIDI as it celebrates a quarter-century of supporting trade, investment and economic transformation across Africa.
Hosted by the Government of Kenya, the AGM will provide a platform for high-level dialogue on the future of African development finance.
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Leaders from the public and private sectors will examine how innovative financing solutions, enhanced risk mitigation instruments and stronger African institutions can unlock investment and drive long-term economic growth.
A key highlight of the programme will be the Leaders' Panel, which will examine how Africa can build a more resilient and self-sustaining development finance ecosystem in response to shifting global capital flows, mounting debt pressures and growing demand for infrastructure and industrial investment.
Bringing together senior political leaders, development finance institutions and trade and investment organisations, the panel will explore how governments, regional institutions and multilateral partners can work together to mobilise domestic and international capital, reduce financing costs and channel investment into priority sectors, including energy, manufacturing, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and green infrastructure.
As part of its 25th anniversary celebrations, ATIDI will recognise its founding members and reflect on its evolution over the past quarter-century.
Alongside the policy discussions, the AGM will place a strong emphasis on investment promotion and business development.
An Investor Showcase will bring together representatives from governments, commercial banks, multilateral development banks and the private sector to highlight investment opportunities and strengthen engagement between investors and African markets.
The programme will also feature a series of curated business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) meetings aimed at connecting investors, businesses and public-sector stakeholders, fostering partnerships and unlocking long-term investment opportunities across the continent.
Kelly Mua Kingsly, chairperson of ATIDI's board of directors, said the anniversary offered an opportunity to celebrate the institution's contribution to Africa's development.
"As the continent seeks to mobilise greater levels of investment and accelerate development, African institutions have an increasingly important role to play. This AGM will bring together leaders from across the continent and beyond to explore how partnerships, innovation and risk mitigation can help unlock the capital needed to support Africa's future."
ATIDI chief executive officer Manuel Moses said the organisation remained committed to advancing home-grown solutions for the continent's development.
"'African solutions for Africa' reflects our belief that the continent's development ambitions will be achieved through strong institutions, innovative thinking and effective collaboration.
"This AGM provides a unique opportunity for policymakers, investors and development partners to come together and discuss practical solutions that can help mobilise investment at scale, strengthen resilience and support sustainable economic transformation across Africa."