What will it take for Africa to compete on the global landscape? Scale. In today’s environment—where capital is increasingly concentrated in larger, more integrated markets—the continent faces a clear imperative: build the scale needed to attract investment, compete globally, and deliver jobs. This is the focus of the Africa CEO Forum 2026 taking place this week in Kigali, Rwanda.
That message resonates in a special conversation between Makhtar Diop and Aliko Dangote. Their discussion reinforces a critical point: the continent’s transformation will be driven not only by policy and partnerships, but by investors willing to commit capital and build for the long term.
In this edition of IFC Trendlines, we bring that lens to life—from policy reforms that unlock private investment to businesses expanding across borders. We also highlight insights from the Morocco Country Private Sector Diagnostic 2026, showing how targeted reforms can accelerate investment and job creation.
Interested in the conversations taking place with global leaders at the Forum? Follow #ACF2026 for updates from Kigali!
