Africa Urged to Mobilize Strategic Capital, Create Business Env’t  to Boost Investors' Confidence 

Addis Ababa, July 21, 2025 (ENA) -- Trade and Regional Integration State Minister, Abdulhakim Mulu, emphasized the need for building right frameworks, mobilizing strategic capital and creating business environment that inspire confidence of African investors.

The Third Africa Trade and Investment Summit is taking place in Addis Ababa, bringing together a wide array of stakeholders from across the continent.

The Summit, organized by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration in partnership with Investment Center for Africa, is being held under the theme: "Empowering Africa’s Growth through Cross Border Trade and Investment Synergy."

Exploring new collaborative opportunities among financial institutions, investors, and business leaders is the main objective of this two-day summit.

 

In his opening remarks, Trade and Regional Integration State Minister, Abdulhakim Mulu, said that the summit is a platform that captures the spirit of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and long-held ambition of African countries to grow together through dynamic collaboration across borders, sectors, and communities.

The state minister highlighted the vital role of intra-Africa trade and investment by unlocking the industrial potential, catalyzing innovation and creating jobs, ensuring African markets are integrated, capitalized, and future-oriented.

African economic potential is undeniable; yet, potential cannot automatically translate into prosperity, the state minister noted, emphasizing the need for building right frameworks, mobilizing strategic capital, and creating a business environment that inspires confidence among African investors.

“African economic potential is undeniable; our continent is home to some of the fastest-growing market, young population, and promising sectors from clean energy and agriculture to digital service and green infrastructure. Yet, potential doesn’t automatically translate into prosperity; we must build the right frameworks, mobilize strategic capital, and create a business environment that inspires confidence especially among African investors themselves,” the state minister elaborated.

Ethiopia remains a committed and focal champion of a peaceful, integrated and economically empowered continent, Abdulhakim noted.

He pointed out that Ethiopia’s active participation in flagship initiatives from the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which empowers regional industrialization, to the Addis Ababa-Djibouti corridor, linking landlocked economies to ports, demonstrates the nation’s commitment that Africa's growth must be collective, interconnected, and investment-driven.

On his part, Investment Center of Africa, CEO, Abdinasir Turky, emphasized for enhancing partnership and creating a conducive environment for promoting intra-Africa investment and cross-border trades.

 

The summit would gear up minds of Africans to unlock the immense potential that the continent holds, he added, mentioning the existing rich resources, innovative ideas, and youth population eager to bring transformative change.

“The summit is not merely gearing of minds; it is a powerful affirmation of our collective vision to unlock the immense potential that our continent holds. Africa is rich in resources, innovative ideas, and a youth population eager to transformative change,” the CEO stated.

The CEO reaffirmed that Investment Center of Africa is committed to facilitating sustainable investment and driving economic growth across the continent.