FITA 2026 Opens in Tunis, Positioning Africa’s Infrastructure as the Engine of Transformation
Tunis, Tunisia — April 28, 2026
Under the high patronage of President Kais Saied, the 10th edition of the Financing, Investment and Trade in Africa (FITA) 2026 convened in Tunis today, setting an ambitious tone for Africa’s next phase of development—one anchored in infrastructure, regional integration, and strategic capital deployment.
Far from a ceremonial gathering, the opening session framed FITA 2026 as an operational platform designed to convert Africa’s demographic scale and natural endowments into bankable projects, industrial ecosystems, and policy coherence.

Africa at a Defining Inflexion Point
In a keynote address, a senior Tunisian minister described the continent as standing at a “decisive juncture.” With Africa’s population projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050—over 60% of whom are under 35—the demographic dividend presents both unparalleled opportunity and systemic urgency.
Yet the structural deficits remain stark. Approximately 600 million Africans lack access to electricity, 400 million lack access to clean drinking water, and nearly 700 million lack adequate sanitation. Infrastructure gaps—particularly in transport connectivity, where almost 500 million people live more than 2 km from an all-weather road—continue to constrain productivity and inclusion.
The financing shortfall, estimated at $130–170 billion annually, is further compounded by rapid urbanisation, food insecurity, and intensifying climate pressures.
Against this backdrop, the minister reaffirmed alignment with the African Union’s flagship vision, Agenda 2063, positioning it as the continent’s blueprint for structural transformation and sustainable growth.

Tunisia as a Strategic Gateway
Positioning itself as a Mediterranean gateway to Africa, Tunisia outlined its commitment to continental integration through infrastructure-led development. Central to this approach is its participation in the Trans-Saharan Highway, a corridor designed to connect North Africa with the Sahel and West Africa, reducing logistics costs and enabling cross-border value chains.
Complementary investments in transport modernisation, water-resource management, and territorial development aim to create a more resilient and equitable growth model. The underlying policy message was unequivocal: infrastructure is not ancillary—it is foundational to economic transformation.

From Dialogue to Co-Creation
FITA 2026 is being positioned as a “co-creation platform,” shifting beyond discourse toward actionable outcomes. Participants are expected to engage in structured exchanges, develop joint financing mechanisms, and design projects tailored to African contexts.
“Investment and trade in Africa must rest on connectivity, confidence, and concrete deliverables,” the minister emphasised, underscoring the need to translate political commitments into executable initiatives—ranging from regional trade corridors to industrial clusters.

Diaspora Capital and Innovation in Focus
The forum also highlighted the catalytic role of diaspora networks in advancing Africa’s development agenda. Tunisian entrepreneur Habib Ben Romdhane was honoured for fostering cross-border investment between Tunisia and Madagascar, particularly in logistics, agro-industry, and renewable energy.
Innovation featured prominently, with the Policy Paper Award presented to Freddy Boscat and the Monastim team for their work on decentralised energy-transition frameworks. Their technology, GENEREX, offers a retrofit solution to reduce fuel consumption in diesel-based systems—an intervention with immediate applicability in off-grid and industrial settings.

Strategic Partnerships and Industrial Vision
A defining feature of the opening ceremony was the announcement of high-impact partnerships, signalling FITA’s evolution into a project incubation ecosystem. Among them is collaboration between the Tunisia Africa Business Council (TABC) and Congolese authorities on the Kinshasa–Kia–Mona urban expansion initiative—a $50 billion, 15-year megaproject envisioned to decongest Kinshasa while establishing Nova City as a hub for industry and innovation.
In parallel, the launch of the Tunisian Consortium for African Development (TUCA)—a coalition of 12 firms—aims to deliver integrated EPC (engineering, procurement, construction) solutions across sectors including energy, transport, water, and ICT.

Global Partnerships and the AfCFTA Imperative
Keynote interventions reinforced Africa’s centrality in the evolving global economic order. Guinea’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, Fatima Camara, outlined the Simandou 2040 vision—a long-term transformation agenda integrating agriculture, mining, infrastructure, and health systems.
Meanwhile, Canada’s diplomatic engagement was underscored by Ambassador Benmark Diandéré, who advocated for a trilateral cooperation model linking Canada, Tunisia, and Africa—leveraging Canada’s agribusiness expertise, Tunisia’s human capital and geography, and Africa’s market scale.
Representing continental policy coordination, Youssef El Kourdofani emphasised the transformative potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), now valued at approximately $3.4 trillion. He highlighted the urgent need for policy harmonisation, value-chain development, and digital integration to elevate intra-African trade beyond its current 16%.

Africa’s Resource Power and Global Relevance
Speakers repeatedly underscored Africa’s strategic assets: 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, approximately 30% of global mineral reserves, and vast renewable energy potential. With a population already exceeding 1.4 billion, the continent is increasingly viewed as central to resolving global crises in food security, energy transition, and water sustainability.
Despite persistent structural constraints—including reliance on raw commodity exports—the momentum generated by AfCFTA, Africa’s permanent representation in the G20, and rising investor interest signals a recalibration of global economic geography.

A Call to Action
As FITA 2026 transitions into its technical sessions on industrialisation, mining value chains, energy corridors, and intra-African trade, the inaugural message was both urgent and optimistic: Africa’s transformation will hinge on its ability to mobilise capital, deepen integration, and deliver infrastructure at scale.
For Tunisia, the forum represents more than diplomatic hosting—it is a strategic declaration. Positioned at the crossroads of Europe and Africa, the country is asserting its role as a co-investor and co-architect of the continent’s future.
The message resonating through Tunis was unequivocal: Africa is no longer a frontier market—it is a defining arena of 21st-century economic growth.