Infrastructure Africa 2026 will officially open with a strategic high-level plenary titled:
“Infrastructure for a Connected Continent: Building the Backbone for AfCFTA Success, Accelerating Regional Infrastructure Integration.”
As the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) continues to reshape the continent’s economic architecture, infrastructure remains the decisive enabler of its success. Cross-border transport corridors, integrated power pools, digital connectivity networks and logistics platforms are fundamental to unlocking intra-African trade, regional value chains and long-term industrialisation.
The Opening Plenary will bring together senior leaders from finance, development institutions, government, industry and digital infrastructure to examine how coordinated regional investment can accelerate economic integration across Africa.
Confirmed Speakers Include:
Moderator:
- Duncan Bonnet, Africa House
Panellists:
- Mameetse Masemola, Infrastructure South Africa (ISA)
- Lucy Chege, Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB Group)
- Aymeric d’Ydewalle, Saint-Gobain Africa
- Satu Kahkonen, World Bank Country Director
- Carlos De Almeida, WIOCC
The session will explore how infrastructure investment across transport, energy and ICT sectors can reduce trade barriers, lower transaction costs and enhance regional competitiveness under the AfCFTA framework.
Key Themes to be Addressed:
- Aligning national infrastructure plans with AfCFTA priorities
- Financing cross-border infrastructure at scale
- De-risking regional projects for private sector participation
- Strengthening regional energy and digital integration
- Public-private partnerships as catalysts for infrastructure delivery
- The role of multilateral and development finance institutions
Africa’s infrastructure financing gap remains significant, yet the opportunity is equally substantial. With AfCFTA creating the world’s largest free trade area by number of countries, coordinated infrastructure delivery is no longer optional — it is foundational to continental growth.
“Infrastructure is the backbone of economic integration,” said Liz Hart, Managing Director, Infrastructure Africa. “Without connected transport corridors, reliable power systems and robust digital networks, the full promise of AfCFTA cannot be realised. This Opening Plenary sets the tone for practical, investment-led solutions.”
Infrastructure Africa 2026 will convene policymakers, investors, project developers, financiers, engineering firms and technology providers to catalyse partnerships and advance bankable projects across the continent.