OECD Development 199d ago

With greater investment in infrastructure, Africa could double its GDP by 2040. However, this will require mobilising new resources, including more private capital, and strengthening the skills needed to deliver projects effectively. At #AfricaForum2025 in Paris, African leaders and international partners discussed priorities for financing transport, energy and digital networks, as well as the reforms and partnerships needed to make infrastructure investment more sustainable and inclusive. The opening session featured contributions from Mathias Cormann, Francisca Tatchouop Belobe, Rémy Rioux and Christina Kokkinakis, who set the scene for the discussions. The Forum sessions were moderated by Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir and Dominique Tchimbakala, and key points emerging from the discussions included: ➡️ Improving information on investment opportunities and reducing barriers to investment ➡️ Expanding private sector participation in infrastructure projects ➡️ Aligning training with labour market needs to build delivery skills ➡️ Strengthening local expertise to support long-term resilience and inclusive growth The OECD Development Centre thanks the panellists for the depth of expertise they brought to the Forum: Ismaël Nabé, Maryse Lokossou, Enrico Petrocelli, Birgit Pickel, Antoine Durand, Yukiko Omura, Amine Idriss A. Karama, Towela Nyirenda-Jere, Papa Amadou Sarr and Adama Mariko. -- The Forum was co-organised by the OECD Development Centre and the African Union Commission, in partnership with the French Development Agency (Agence française de développement – AFD), CDP (Cassa Depositi e Prestiti) and France Médias Monde.