In a bold push to cement London’s status as a global gateway for African investment, business and innovation, Mayor Sadiq Khan on Wednesday convened the first-ever London-Africa Business Summit, bringing together leading investors, policymakers and entrepreneurs from across Africa and the United Kingdom amid intensifying global competition for Africa’s rapidly expanding markets.

The landmark gathering, hosted at City Hall and attended by more than 200 business and political leaders, marks a new chapter in economic relations between London and Africa, as both sides seek to capitalise on growing trade opportunities, rising investment flows and the continent’s emergence as one of the world’s most significant engines of future growth.

The summit comes at a time when Africa’s economic importance is attracting unprecedented international attention, with its youthful population, expanding middle class, accelerating urbanisation and increasing digital transformation positioning it as a major driver of global growth.

Against this backdrop, London is moving to position itself as Africa’s preferred international financial and commercial hub.

Addressing delegates, Khan described Africa as one of the world’s most dynamic growth regions and reaffirmed London’s commitment to supporting African companies seeking global expansion.

“I am proud to host City Hall’s first-ever London-Africa Business Summit, bringing together investors, entrepreneurs and businesses to showcase London as the best city in the world for African companies to expand internationally and attract investment,” the mayor said.

The summit builds on Khan’s 2025 trade mission to Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa, aimed at strengthening commercial partnerships and deepening engagement with key African economies.

Officials disclosed that African companies have invested more than £30 million in London since the visit, strengthening confidence in the city as an investment destination.

The summit also highlighted London’s position as the leading international marketplace for African businesses, with 117 African companies currently listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Those listings span telecommunications, banking, energy, mining, technology and infrastructure, reflecting London’s long-standing role as a bridge between African enterprise and global capital.

Participants also explored opportunities in technology, renewable energy, healthcare, education, creative industries, agribusiness and infrastructure development.

Economic experts said Africa is increasingly viewed not only as a development region but as a strategic global growth market.

With a population projected to exceed 2.5 billion by 2050, Africa is becoming a key focus for global investors seeking long-term returns.

Despite global challenges, UK-Africa trade reached about £52 billion in 2025, with British exports to Africa rising to £26.2 billion.

The UK also hosts a large African diaspora, strengthening cultural and economic ties between both regions.

The summit aligns with London’s growth ambitions, including plans to attract investment to boost its economy and create new jobs by 2035, with African investment expected to play a growing role.

For observers, the inaugural summit signals a shift in global engagement with Africa, recognising the continent as a rising economic power rather than a development-dependent region.

As competition among global financial centres intensifies, London is positioning itself to remain a key gateway to Africa’s economic future. (Arise News)

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