Held under the theme “Africa Forward: Africa-France Partnership for Innovation and Growth”, the summit, which closes on Tuesday, seeks to deepen cooperation between Africa and France in trade, investment, and technology, with a strong focus on shifting toward a more investment-driven and innovation-led partnership.
A key highlight of President Kagame’s participation will be his role as co-chair of a high-level roundtable on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies. The discussion is expected to explore Africa’s growing role in shaping global digital policy and accelerating innovation-led development, an area where Rwanda has increasingly positioned itself as a continental leader.
In addition to the AI session, President Kagame is expected to address a plenary session bringing together African and French chief executive officers, where discussions will focus on green industrialisation and energy transition. These themes form part of a broader agenda aimed at advancing sustainable economic transformation across the continent.
The Africa Forward Summit brings together more than 4,000 participants, including over 25 African Heads of State and Government, alongside more than 2,000 business leaders, innovators, and development partners. It also marks the first time such a high-level Africa-France forum is being held in an English-speaking African country.
Organisers say the summit represents a strategic shift away from traditional aid-based relations toward “bankable investments” designed to attract private capital and support commercially viable projects across African economies. Key stakeholders include governments, private sector actors, African multilateral institutions, and global financial partners such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank.
Youth engagement is also central to the summit, with around 500 young leaders expected to participate in a dedicated dialogue with Presidents Kagame, Ruto, and Macron. The discussions will focus on artificial intelligence, technology, and the role of young Africans in global decision-making.
The summit will further feature thematic roundtables on agriculture, health, rural development, and energy access, reflecting what organizers describe as a results-driven development agenda.
Rwanda is expected to feature prominently in discussions on artificial intelligence, underscoring its growing influence in digital innovation and technology-driven development on the continent. The cultural and creative industries will also be highlighted, with internationally recognized Rwandan artist Sherrie Silver among participants contributing to conversations on youth empowerment and economic transformation.
The Africa Forward Summit is expected to conclude with the adoption of the Nairobi Declaration on Future Africa-France Cooperation, outlining a new framework for partnership between Africa and France.
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