African leaders and financial experts gathered at the World Government Summit (WGS 2026) said the continent doesn’t need aid, it needs investment.
Leaders from Tanzania, Mozambique and the African Development Bank, in a session titled “The Future of Government and Investment: An African Perspective,” considered how the continent can unlock private capital at a pivotal moment of economic transformation.
The session brought together Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania; Maria Bembinda Delfina Levi, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mozambique. and Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the 8th President of the African Development Bank Group, and moderated by John Deftelios, former CNN anchor and strategic advisor to APCO Worldwide.
Deftelios positioned Africa at a historic turning point, citing rapid population growth, accelerating digital transformation, vast natural resources and an expanding tourism sector. However, he noted that Africa’s share of global foreign direct investment remains disproportionately small. Of the $1.6 trillion in total global FDI recorded in 2025, only about $60 billion (about 4-5%) went to Africa.
Dr. Adesina of the African Development Bank Group argued that now is the time for a decisive shift away from aid-led development and towards investment-led growth. “Africa doesn’t need aid; it needs investment,” he said, pointing to the continent’s continued economic momentum.
According to IMF projections, Africa is expected to grow at around 4% a year over the next four years, maintaining the world’s highest real GDP growth rate, reflecting what he described as “structural momentum rather than a temporary decline.”
He highlighted successful African and global companies operating across the continent, strong returns from infrastructure assets, and low correlation between Africa and global public markets. Taken together, these factors position Africa as an attractive destination for long-term investors.
Dr. Adesina also highlighted that the continent’s significant mineral and natural assets are estimated at $6 trillion and stressed the need to transform these funds into structured, income-generating investment opportunities.
President Hassan outlined the reforms Tanzania has undertaken to attract capital, highlighting policy coherence, regulatory reform and large-scale infrastructure investment. He detailed major transport projects, including a 2,100-kilometre standard gauge railway linking Tanzania with Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and a major port development spanning the Indian Ocean and major inland lakes.
“These reforms have created a more predictable and attractive investment environment,” President Hassan said, noting that the number of registered investment projects in Tanzania has increased from about 250 in 2018 to nearly 970 today, and the amount of investment has increased from $3.8 billion to almost $12 billion.
He highlighted close cooperation with partners such as the African Development Bank, the World Bank and the UAE in financing these projects.
Prime Minister Levy highlighted Mozambique’s progress in building major energy and infrastructure investments. He cited the restart of the Total Energy-led Mozambique LNG project, ExxonMobil’s Rovuma LNG project, the ENI-operated floating LNG platform, and a new $5 billion hydropower partnership with EDF and Sumitomo.
Levy said Africa’s challenge is not a lack of assets, but rather bridging the gap between assets and global capital through better governance, risk mitigation and project structuring.
Concluding the session, Dr. Adesina highlighted the role of development banks, guarantees and the upcoming World Africa Investment Summit in transforming Africa’s assets into investable portfolios.
“Africa is not optional. Africa is inevitable,” he said, underscoring that the continent’s leadership is committed to moving up the value chain and positioning Africa as one of the world’s most attractive regions for sustainable, long-term investment.
Source: Emirates/WAM
