Africa-Press – Uganda. Now in its fourth year, the Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI) ‘Unstoppable Africa’ event brings together African leaders, innovators, and investors for a two-day event to spotlight the continent’s economic potential, forge partnerships, and position Africa as a key player in shaping global markets. Ahead of the gathering, Africa Renewal’s Zipporah Musau sat down with Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact—the organizers of GABI—to discuss what to expect this year:
Why is this year’s event such a pivotal platform for Africa?
This year we are convening at a very unique moment in history. Geopolitics is heightened, there are trade and tariff challenges, but most importantly, the biggest opportunity is that the world is looking at Africa. We want to shape and transform the idea that business is not done in Africa, but with Africa. Africa must be at the table.
We also want to highlight what the current—not future—opportunities are for doing business with Africa.
Thirdly, we want to stress Africa’s centrality as a solutions provider for many of the big challenges facing the world today—energy, security, climate change, demographic change, critical minerals, arable land. Africa has solutions, and we must advance the case that Africa is part of the solution-making.
Participants can expect vibrant discussions with captains of industry, heads of state, innovators and entrepreneurs. We will come out with concrete actions and commitments, with strong announcements highlighting where the opportunities are to partner with Africa.
Why does GABI matter at this point in Africa’s economic journey?
As UN Global Compact, we are truly honoured to convene this platform on behalf of the UN system and the African Union. It is the biggest platform outside the continent that brings together Africans and the world.
It is important because this is Africa’s moment to establish its position in global trade, to define what value addition means. You will see the new leaders of institutions like Afreximbank (African Export-Import Bank) and AfDB (African Development Bank), and among political leaders there is Namibia’s new president.
We are also shining a light on the creative industry and sports, which are huge contributors to Africa’s GDP and must be highlighted.
The theme this year is “The Big Push: Africa Shapes the Markets.” What three things should African leaders and businesses do now to ensure the continent shapes, rather than follows, global markets?
First is value addition. We cannot shape markets if Africa is still getting the least economic value at the entry point. Maximum value addition across industries and value chains is critical.
Second, policies and actions to advance the AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area). Without that, intra-Africa trade remains a promise, not a reality. We need to remove hurdles around infrastructure, digital payment systems, tariffs, and paperwork. Trade in goods, services, and movement of people must become as frictionless as possible.
Third, harmonisation of tariffs and policies. Not to say Africa must be one trading zone, but we need alignment to ease trade across the continent.
Which sectors hold the greatest promise for Africa to lead globally?
Energy. Africa has abundant solar, wind, and geothermal energy. Several countries are already more than 50% powered by renewables, and North Africa is exporting energy to Europe. Kenya, for example, has over 90% renewable energy.
Critical minerals. These are vital for digital transformation, but Africa must move into value addition at source, not just export raw materials.
Digital transformation. Africa has shown innovations and inclusion in fintech, Agri-tech, and ed-tech. At GABI we will feature some of these innovations. The challenge is to move from pilot stage to scale, with the right long-term investment in these startups.
Then there is the untapped GDP from the creative and sports industries. You know, around the world, there’s so much recognition of the talent that the various African countries bring. Africa fills stadiums and concert halls worldwide, and our athletes and artists contribute enormously to global culture. But we must build the infrastructure at home to fully reward and support this talent.
What are the top three challenges stopping Africa from becoming the world’s next economic superpower?
The first one is climate shocks. Africa contributes only about 3% of global emissions, but is the most vulnerable—facing droughts, floods, and famine. Yet Africa also holds the solutions: abundant solar, wind, and renewables to power our way forward.
Second, geopolitics. The continent doesn’t necessarily sit at all of these major tables, but yet becomes either the playground for conflicts that are engineered by external forces or reaps the adverse effects because supply chains are disrupted, and people are forced to migrate.
Third, trade tariffs—including regulatory compliance. New regulations, especially in Europe, could shut out African SMEs who cannot keep up with complex, fast-changing standards. Even European companies find them challenging. For SMEs, the cost of compliance is very high.
What African-led solutions to some of these challenges give you hope?
Our development finance institutions—Afrexim, AFC, AfDB—are proving that Africa is bankable and investable. The AfCFTA shows that intra-African trade is possible; it just needs investment in infrastructure and border efficiency. Cross-border trade has always existed informally; now it must be scaled up formally.
And above all, Africa’s people. We have the youngest, fastest-growing population in the world. Africans are resilient, innovative, and present in every industry—from farming to AI.
Looking beyond this year’s event, what would success for GABI look like?
Success means making GABI the place where commitments and deals are made, tracked, and translated into action. It means headlines that show billions in commitments for African businesses—and follow-through on the ground.
We have formalised partnerships with the AU and the Africa CEO Forum to expand engagement at a Pan-African level.
Long-term, GABI should be the platform where Africa’s investability and bankability are consistently demonstrated.
My hope is that everyone who walks through those doors is our advocate and our champion. That the event will be a transformative experience that people can go home and talk about.
Our attendance is about 60% private sector, then government officials, academia, and some civil society members. We are banking on our partnership with the media to help carry the message. Africa will not develop unless it develops itself.
How is GABI ensuring Africa’s entrepreneurs and innovators—not just multinationals-benefit?
A lot of global value chains lie with SMEs, where most women and youth are engaged. At GABI: Unstoppable Africa, we bring these innovators and entrepreneurs to the stage to showcase their solutions. We are partnering with groups like UNDP’s Timbuktoo [a pan-African initiative to foster innovation and economic growth by supporting startups and building the continent’s innovation ecosystem] and the MasterCard Foundation to spotlight young innovators.
The African economy is powered by SMEs. Without them, there is no progress. Our calls to action—on job creation, value addition, and industry—all keep SMEs and young people at the centre.
Finally, what is your message to Africa’s people, especially the youth?
Africa’s present and future lie in our hands. Nobody will develop Africa other than Africans themselves, and friends of Africa.
We must shift from being consumers to producers—of technology, energy, agriculture, and digital content.
We need to shape our own narratives, build resilience in our supply chains, and ensure Africa’s future is determined by Africans. Instead of focusing on the negatives we should also highlight the positives.
Africa has the solutions! The continent is brimming with solutions. What we need is to solve Africa’s problems ourselves, and in solving them, we also solve problems for the world. It will not be easy, but we must be more in control of our own destiny.
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