The Africa50 Annual General Meeting and Africa Infrastructure Forum have concluded a series of high-level committee, board and leadership meetings in Dar es Salaam, setting the stage for a final shareholders’ session expected to chart the way forward on infrastructure financing and investment across the continent.
Finance Minister Ambassador Dr Khamis Mussa Omar said the discussions provided an important platform for African governments, development finance institutions and private investors to examine solutions to the continent’s persistent infrastructure funding gap and explore ways of mobilising more private capital for development projects.
Speaking after the meetings, Dr Omar said delegates held extensive discussions on development financing challenges facing Africa at a time when global political and economic uncertainties are reshaping traditional funding mechanisms.
“We have successfully concluded the committee, leadership and board meetings. The shareholders’ meeting is the final stage. These discussions have enabled us to assess the state of development financing in Africa, understand the existing funding gap and identify practical solutions for increasing resources available for development,” he said.
He noted that the changing global economic landscape underscores the need for African countries to strengthen domestic resource mobilisation and build greater financial resilience to support long-term development goals.
According to Dr Omar, Tanzania emerged as one of the beneficiaries of the forum through the signing of three cooperation agreements aimed at advancing strategic development priorities.
One of the agreements was signed between the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) and Africa50 to support improvements in the country’s electricity transmission network, a project expected to enhance energy reliability and strengthen infrastructure needed to support economic expansion.
The forum also facilitated cooperation on the development of Tanzania’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project, which is expected to unlock the economic value of the country’s natural gas reserves while supporting industrialisation and energy security.
“The objective is to ensure that natural gas resources contribute more effectively to value addition, industrial production and broader economic growth in Tanzania and across Africa,” Dr Omar said.
He added that discussions extended beyond energy and infrastructure, with development partners and investors expressing interest in supporting projects in sectors such as healthcare, where investment remains critical to improving service delivery and expanding access to quality services.
The Africa50 Annual General Meeting and Africa Infrastructure Forum have brought together policymakers, financiers, institutional investors and development partners from across the continent to discuss infrastructure investment, project financing and innovative approaches to closing Africa’s development financing gap.
The shareholders’ meeting, which concludes the gathering, is expected to endorse key decisions and provide strategic direction for future investments aimed at accelerating sustainable economic growth across Africa.
