Nairobi is cementing its status as Africa's premier economic conference capital. The Africa Forward Summit 2026, held in Kenya, brought together delegations from across the continent — including Madagascar and Mayotte — around a central ambition: redefining partnerships between Africa and its global partners for more equitable and sustainable growth.
Madagascar and Mayotte at the Table
The presence of Malagasy and Mahorais representatives at the Nairobi summit illustrates the growing importance of the Indian Ocean in African economic diplomacy. Madagascar notably championed its vision of a "green and connected" economy, aligned with its 6% growth target for 2026 and its environmental transition agenda. For Mayotte, participation in this type of regional forum is crucial to anchor its status as a European territory within the region's economic dynamic.
Public-Private Partnerships at the Heart of Debate
The summit spotlighted public-private partnerships as a key lever for financing African development. Facing an infrastructure deficit estimated in the hundreds of billions of dollars, no African state can finance its economic transition alone. Discussions focused on the conditions needed — regulatory frameworks, sovereign guarantees, risk-sharing instruments — to attract private capital at the necessary scale.
Nairobi, East Africa's Economic Capital
The choice of Nairobi is no accident. Kenya recorded 6% growth in 2026 alongside Ethiopia, propelling East Africa as the continent's most dynamic region. Its tech ecosystem — Silicon Savannah — resonates internationally, and its financial sector is attracting capital that barely a decade ago flowed only toward Lagos or Johannesburg.
Why It Matters
Economic summits of this kind have concrete value: they forge contacts, create investment consortia, and lay the groundwork for projects that materialize years later. For Indian Ocean nations, every presence at these forums is a diplomatic and economic investment. In a world where partnerships are being redrawn — between Africa and Europe, but also with Asia and the Gulf — being present and visible is a minimum condition for attracting a fair share of global capital.
Sources: capmad.com / Africa Forward Summit 2026