The 2025 African Investment Forum (AIF) Market Day opened on Wednesday with strong calls from government leaders and development experts for greater private sector participation, innovative financing solutions and accelerated policy reforms to unlock Africa’s vast economic potential.
The three-day forum, held under the patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, will bring together government ministers, global investors, development finance institutions and business leaders to advance bankable projects across strategic sectors such as energy, transport, digital infrastructure, agriculture and industrialization. The theme for 2025 is ‘Bridging the Gap: Mobilizing Private Capital to Maximize Africa’s Potential’.
Opening the forum attended by more than 1,700 participants, Morocco’s Minister of Economy and Finance Nadia Fetter, together with Dr. Sidi Ould Tarr, President of the African Development Bank, emphasized that closing Africa’s financing gap is essential for the continent to fully realize its promise.
Speaking on behalf of King Mohammed VI, Fettah called on African countries to assume a “sovereign responsibility” to create the conditions to attract investment, including political stability, strong institutions, modern and predictable regulatory frameworks, and transparent governance.
“Giving means doing our part: building infrastructure, supporting entrepreneurs, embracing innovation and driving big change in energy, digital, industrial, agriculture and logistics,” Fetta said. “Receiving, on the other hand, means building meaningful partnerships and focusing capital that fosters long-term development.”
Mr. Fetta highlighted the need for global resources, noting that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals will require $4 trillion annually worldwide, with Africa needing nearly $1.3 trillion annually.
He reaffirmed Morocco’s goal for private investment to account for two-thirds of national investment by 2035, reflecting the important role of the private sector in job creation, innovation and competitiveness.
Dr. Ould Tah, who chaired Market Days for the first time as president of the African Development Bank, outlined his leadership vision for the African Development Bank, the Four Fundamentals, aimed at strengthening Africa’s long-term competitiveness. Reforming Africa’s financial structure. Turn population growth into economic power. We will build strong infrastructure while expanding added value in the region.
“Our youth are our greatest asset,” she said, calling for targeted support for women and young entrepreneurs.
Dr. Urd Tarr reiterated that the AIF Board is “much more than a transaction; it is an investment in our common future.”
The highlight of the market day will be a boardroom session where project sponsors are expected to present 40 potential deals to investors, along with government representatives, development agencies and companies working to close them.
The proportion of investment-ready projects rose significantly from 81 percent in 2024 to 95 percent this year. This builds on the momentum from previous editions, driven by the trajectory set since the forum’s inception in 2018, which generated strong investor interest. Sponsorships in 2025 have also more than doubled compared to last year.
Minister Fetta and Dr. Ould Tah expressed confidence that this forum will generate concrete partnerships to boost economic growth and improve livelihoods across Africa.
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