Africa Forward Summit: Macron meets young entrepreneurs in Nairobi

President Emmanuel Macron on Monday aims to promote France’s new approach to Africa at the inauguration of the Africa Forward Summit in Kenya, which is being held for the first time in an Anglophone country.

The French leader is meeting 450 young people from across the continent and France, who are set to share their ideas for the future of the African continent.

Thousands of entrepreneurs are expecting a major focus on strengthening Africa-France business partnerships, with 1,500 stakeholders—including investors and policymakers—concentrating on scaling startups in AI, green industrialization, and fintech, with pitching opportunities, and a push for tangible investments rather than just policy discussions top of the agenda at the Nairobi global summit.

The event brings together heads of state and government from France and several dozen African countries.

More than 2,000 participants from the political, economic, and civil society spheres are expected, including internationally recognized elite athletes. The European Union, the African Union, international financial institutions, and development banks, including AFD Group, will also be represented.

The summit aims to identify solutions to shared challenges facing France and African countries. It will also provide an opportunity to amplify the voices of young leaders, in an event designed as a platform for dialogue and for showcasing their ideas for the future of the African continent.

“Africa and France are closely connected, with a shared history that includes both periods of hardship and moments of strong partnership.

 

Today, exchanges are deepening. Climate challenges, in particular, are prompting greater attention toward the African continent, which offers concrete solutions,” says Sandra Kassab, Director of the Africa Department at Agence Française de Développement (AFD).