Africa Collective Geneva 2026, held under the patronage of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) on 18–19 June at the Geneva Marriott Hotel, brought together over 300 decision-makers from 30 countries under the theme “Africa in a New Global Economy: Trade, Capital, Impact” to confront a defining question: in a time of global supply chain shifts and realignment of partnerships, how can the African continent leverage its position to achieve lasting economic power?
“Africa’s position in a rapidly evolving global economy will be determined by its ability to strengthen trade architecture, mobilize capital at scale, and accelerate industrial transformation. At Afreximbank, we are not merely financing trade; we are building the foundations for long-term economic transformation. Through strategic investments, innovative financial solutions, and partnerships with the African Union and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, we are advancing a more integrated, resilient, and globally competitive African market.” –Dr. Yemi Kale, Managing Director and Group Chief Economist, Afreximbank.
Guided by Africa Collective’s vision of a globally connected Africa at the forefront of solutions, opportunities and innovation, the two-day programme reinforced Africa’s voice in international economic conversations, at a time when the continent’s evolving role in the global economy increasingly calls for stronger collaboration, deeper connections, and sustained engagement between public and private actors.
“Africa’s role in the global economy is evolving quickly, and progress will depend on developing and facilitating stronger trade links, accessing patient capital, and engaging partnerships that deliver real impact. As a Lead Partner, Standard Bank is committed to connecting African businesses and projects with the capital and networks needed to turn opportunity into long-term outcomes. Initiatives such as the Africa Collective Geneva Conference play an important role in bringing together investors, businesses, and policymakers to accelerate this opportunity for progress.” –Ian Carton, Standard Bank Head Client Coverage International
The first day was dedicated to exclusive Africa Collective formats reserved for members, partners and invited guests, featuring curated Africa Collective Circle thematic discussions around sectoral topics covering healthcare, finance, ventures, commodities and infrastructure. The program also included a Deal Room, designed to enable more targeted engagement, foster initiatives and facilitate targeted matchmaking.
The second day unfolded through the open Swiss-African Business Day, where participants engaged in keynote presentations, high-level panel discussions, and nine thematic breakout sessions across sectors including infrastructure, energy, metals and minerals, agribusiness, technical and vocational, education and training (TVET), and healthcare.
Health featured prominently in the programme, with a dedicated session examining how long-term partnerships are strengthening locally led, resilient health systems across Africa.
“Good health is a strategic investment that not only has the power to save lives but also to build more prosperous, resilient economies,” said Dr. Lutz Hegemann, President Global Health and Swiss Country Affairs at Novartis. “This requires health systems that are locally led and globally enabled – Novartis is committed to helping build these systems.”
As part of a new format introduced this year, the programme also featured a dedicated “Invest in Morocco” session, showcasing the country’s strategic positioning, strong talent base, and stable investment environment, underpinned by dedicated support for key investors.
Africa Collective Geneva 2026 conference closed with a clear call to action: to rethink the foundations of Africa’s economic growth model, at a time when the continent’s
global relevance continues to rise. Across sessions, participants emphasized the need to harness local capital at scale, moving beyond traditional dependency models. There was broad consensus that there is a catalytic role for philanthropic capital and that long-term growth will depend on stronger investment frameworks and execution capacity. Speakers underscored the importance of strengthening connections, conversations, and intra-African as well as global collaboration, prioritising investment in education and capacity building. Developing and retaining talent emerged as a critical priority, with a strong focus on empowering local companies and manufacturers as key drivers of sustainable, homegrown growth.
About Africa Collective
Africa Collective is a global–Africa network designed to strengthen Africa’s voice and role in the world. Its mission is to connect, exchange, and collaborate with visionary leaders and organisations to positively shape Africa’s future. The flagship gatherings by the network are Africa Collective Davos and Africa Collective Geneva, complemented by curated activities across Africa throughout the year. The platform is backed by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) as Host Partner and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat as Patronage Partner. Through its membership model, partnerships, and dedicated sectoral Africa Collective Circles, it provides a trusted space for collaboration and innovation. Find out more at: Africa Collective – Premier Leadership Network
About Africa Collective Geneva
Africa Collective Geneva is Africa Collective’s annual stand-alone flagship event, which features the Swiss-African Business Day (SABD) as well as exclusive invitation-only formats for Africa Collective partners, members and invited guests. Africa Collective Geneva is the largest annual gathering and platform in Switzerland for doing business in and with Africa, attracting over 350 participants from more than 30 countries every year.
