Luanda:Leaders from African financial institutions and companies have expressed a desire to mobilize private resources and domestic savings to finance structural projects in sectors such as energy, agriculture, health, industry, and infrastructure. This initiative comes in response to the scarcity and high cost of external financing.
According to Angola Press News Agency, this position was articulated during a panel discussion titled 'Impact Capital Mobilizing Private Investment for Transformative Growth in Africa,' which was part of the African Financial Industry Summit (AFIS 2026).
Participants emphasized the potential of billions of dollars held in domestic assets, including pension funds, insurance companies, and African sovereign wealth funds. Despite the availability of these resources, a significant portion remains invested in government debt securities rather than being directed into productive sectors that can drive economic growth and job creation. This situation, they argue, limits the continent's ability to finance strategic development areas.
Césaire Meh of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) proposed several measures to change this scenario, suggesting improved fiscal management, pension system reforms, and the creation of more opportunities for foreign investors. These measures could reduce costs and enhance investment flows. Meh also noted that the national stock market has experienced significant growth over the last two years, fueled by privatization processes.
The need to prepare companies to receive investments through sound governance and financial transparency was also highlighted. Transforming capital holders into active investors is considered vital for the success of these initiatives.
The experience of the West African Monetary Union (WAMU), which includes eight West African nations with a common currency and regulatory body, was discussed. Kossi Tenou of the WAMU Financial Markets Authority emphasized the importance of developing robust capital markets to channel domestic savings into productive investments, particularly as external financing becomes more challenging.
The two-day event, organized by the Jeune Afrique Media Group under the theme 'Making Capital Count Unlocking Growth Through African Financing,' underscored the importance of mobilizing the continent's resources for economic development.
