Luanda to host landmark Infrastructure Financing Summit as Africa seeks to close $100 billion gap

By Lydia Makina

LUANDA, ANGOLA — The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and the African Union Commission (AUC), in partnership with the Government of Angola, will host Africa’s largest Infrastructure Financing Summit from October 28–31, 2025, in Luanda.

The high-level gathering, to be chaired by African Union leaders, is expected to bring together Heads of State, global investors, multilateral lenders, and private sector players. Organizers say the summit is designed to unlock fresh investments for roads, energy, digital backbones, and climate-resilient projects across the continent.

The summit comes at a time when Africa faces an annual infrastructure financing shortfall of more than $100 billion, threatening to stall progress on the African Union’s flagship Agenda 2063 goals.

“Africa cannot achieve inclusive growth without closing its infrastructure gap,” said an AUDA-NEPAD official ahead of the meeting. “The Luanda Summit is about moving beyond discussions to actual commitments that will transform lives.”

Key to those commitments is the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), which requires $16 billion annually to deliver cross-border projects. At the same time, the Continental Power Systems Master Plan (CMP)—aiming to create an African Single Electricity Market by 2040—demands an estimated $1.3 trillion in investment.

Energy access will be a central theme. More than 600 million Africans still lack electricity, a situation the African Union has described as “untenable in the 21st century.”

Power generation and transmission projects to close the continent’s energy deficit.

Regional transport and logistics corridors that can boost trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Digital infrastructure and fintech innovation, seen as drivers of smarter governance, financial inclusion, and job creation.

Climate adaptation and water resource management projects, to prepare communities for the impact of global warming.

“Investors want bankable projects, and governments want reliable financing,” noted Angolan Minister of Economy and Planning, Mário Caetano João. “This summit is about bringing both sides together to strike deals that benefit Africa.”

While foreign investment remains crucial, experts say Africa must better mobilize its own resources. According to the AUC, over $70 billion sits in African pension funds and sovereign wealth funds every year, much of it invested outside the continent.

“Imagine the impact if even a fraction of that capital was redirected into African infrastructure,” said Ibrahim Mayaki, former CEO of AUDA-NEPAD. “We must de-risk projects and make them attractive to domestic investors.”

The summit will also showcase blended finance models, public-private partnerships, and new instruments aimed at reducing investor risk and ensuring long-term project sustainability.

The Luanda event coincides with the Mid-Term Review of PIDA’s Priority Action Plan (PAP 2), a milestone that will assess progress and set the course for the second half of the decade. Organizers say this makes the summit a critical “stock-taking” moment.

“This is not just about Africa,” said a senior AU official. “By finding solutions that work here, we contribute to global lessons on financing sustainable infrastructure.”

For Angola, hosting the summit is both symbolic and strategic. The country has spent the last decade rebuilding and diversifying its economy after years of dependence on oil exports. Luanda officials say the event will allow Angola to showcase its infrastructure progress and attract further investments.

“Angola is honored to host Africa’s leaders and partners for this defining conversation,” said Angola’s Foreign Minister Téte António. “Luanda will be a platform where Africa demonstrates it is ready to lead its own development.”

With deals expected to be announced and project pipelines unveiled, the Luanda Summit could prove pivotal in shifting Africa’s infrastructure story from aspiration to implementation.

Analysts say the stakes are high. Success in Luanda could fast-track projects that bring electricity, faster transport, and digital access to millions, while failure would risk prolonging Africa’s dependency on fragmented and slow-moving initiatives.

As one AU insider put it: “The world will be watching Luanda closely. Africa is not asking for handouts; it is seeking smart partnerships that can deliver shared prosperity.”

To register to attend the summit, please click on this link:

https://lfs.au-pida.org/register”