Africa UK Diaspora

Mission

To facilitate sustainable economic growth by establishing a structured platform for cross-continental collaboration, dialogue, and high-impact partnerships.

Vision

To become the premier investment bridge connecting London and the global diaspora with high-growth African markets.

Objective

To facilitate investment, deal-making, capacity building, and diaspora-led business opportunities between the UK, Europe, and Africa.

Executive Summary

The London-Africa Diaspora Trade & Investment Conference and Awards connects businesses, investors, policymakers, and the African diaspora across London, Europe, and Africa to strengthen trade, investment, and economic collaboration. It recognizes the diaspora as a vital bridge for capital, skills, expertise, and market access.
As interest in Africa’s growth opportunities continues to rise, the Conference provides a platform to build inclusive, sustainable, and impact-driven partnerships. Leveraging London’s position as a global financial and diaspora hub, it brings key stakeholders together to unlock investment opportunities and drive economic growth across Africa.

About Africa-UK Diaspora Summit 2026

The Partnership focuses on high-impact sectors including agriculture and agro-processing, tourism and hospitality, mining and natural resources, education and skills development, and digital innovation. These sectors offer strong investment opportunities while supporting job creation, skills development, value addition, and sustainable economic growth.
Through targeted business matchmaking, investment dialogues, and practical investment clinics, the initiative connects investors and enterprises to facilitate deals, share knowledge, and build long-term partnerships. The goal is to increase trade and cross-border investment, strengthen diaspora engagement, and raise the visibility of African enterprises.

Rationale

The European Union is Africa’s largest trading partner, with EU-Africa goods trade valued at nearly €355 billion and substantial services exchange, while EU foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa reached €238.9 billion in 2023, mainly in extractives, agri-food, infrastructure, and services.

In London specifically, 505 London-to-Africa FDI projects totaling approximately £47.5 billion have been recorded since 2013, creating nearly 85,000 jobs across Africa—showing the scale of economic ties already in motion.

DIASPORA AS AN ECONOMIC BRIDGE

The African diaspora acts as both a market and a knowledge bridge. Remittances, entrepreneurship, professional networks, and cultural ties can enhance trade and investment outcomes.

Major diaspora business forums show thousands of participants and hundreds of ecosystem partnerships, underscoring strong interest in diaspora-led investment

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Africa-UK Diaspora Trade Summit Structure

• Business Matchmaking Sessions:
London investors meet vetted African SMEs and diaspora entrepreneurs.

• Sector Workshops:
Agribusiness, tourism, mining, education, fintech, and infrastructure streams.

• Investment Clinics:
Practical guidance on operational setup, finance, regulation, and incentives.

• Virtual Participation Streams:
To include diaspora investors who cannot travel.