Africa Financial Summit Opens in Luanda
The two-day summit in Angola focuses on closing Africa's financing gap for businesses and infrastructure.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Financial Services
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The Africa Financial Summit (AFIS) opens in Luanda on 3 November 2026 to address the financing gap facing African businesses and infrastructure projects. The summit is organised by Jeune Afrique Media Group with the International Finance Corporation and the Angolan government.
Why it matters
African banks posted strong profitability in 2024 while many businesses and infrastructure projects remain underfunded. The gap between available finance and continental needs is central to the summit's discussions.
African banks generated more than $100bn in revenue and a 19% return on equity in 2024, while loans make up about 30% of banking assets. Africa's annual development financing gap is above $400bn, against an estimated $4tn in long-term domestic savings.
The players
Sidi Ould Tah
Sidi Ould Tah is president of the African Development Bank, which is expected to present the New African Financial Architecture for Development (NAFAD) at the summit.
International Finance Corporation
The International Finance Corporation is the private-sector arm of the World Bank Group that co-organises the summit with Jeune Afrique Media Group.
Jeune Afrique Media Group
Jeune Afrique Media Group is a Paris-based French-language publisher that organises the summit alongside its partners.
The details
The two-day summit in Luanda will bring more than 1,250 delegates together, including around 10 finance ministers and 18 central bank governors. The opening panel is titled "Making Capital Count," and sessions will cover risk-sharing and guarantee schemes for SMEs and "impact banking."
Timeline
3 November 2026: AFIS summit opens in Luanda, Angola.
3-4 November 2026: Two-day summit held in Luanda.
Market Landscape
The New African Financial Architecture for Development (NAFAD) is expected to be presented at the summit as a framework to improve coordination between financial institutions and strengthen guarantee schemes. The summit positions African financial institutions' strong profitability against persistent underfunding of businesses and infrastructure.
The summit's focus on guarantee schemes and risk-sharing for SMEs could affect the availability of credit for small businesses across Africa. Changes in how banks lend to businesses and infrastructure projects may influence access to financing over time.
The takeaway
African financial institutions have strong profitability, but the financing gap for businesses and infrastructure remains large. Watching how mechanisms like guarantee schemes and risk-sharing develop could show whether capital reaches the sectors that need it most.
Further reading
For more on how financial institutions are funding growth across the continent, explore Financial Services.
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