Towards African Infrastructure Development through PIDA: Luanda Financing Summit

Day：2025.11.21

event ｜

Overview

Event name：Luanda Financing Summit (LFS)
Dates：28-31 October 2025
Organizers：African Union Commission (AUC), African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), Government of Angola

Participants at LFS

The Luanda Financing Summit, aiming at accelerating financing for the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), brought together over 2,000 attendees from both within and outside Africa, including the President of Angola, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), numerous Ministers from various countries, investors and private sectors.

Speakers at a LFS Session

Mr. Toshiyuki Nakamura, Special Advisor to the President, JICA spoked at the “Aligning Global and Regional Partnerships towards Integrated and Sustainable Corridor Development in Africa” session during the LFS.
Please find the list of speakers for the session below:

Moderator

  • AUC: Eng. George Aoko, Coordinator, Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), AUC

Speakers
First session

  • AUC: H.E. Ms. Lerato Mataboge, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, AUC
  • AUDA-NEPAD: H.E. Mrs. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO, AUDA-NEPAD
  • Angola: H.E. Mr. Carlos dos Santos, Minister of Public Works, Urbanism and Housing, Republic of Angola

Second session

  • European Commission: Mr. Sergio Oliete Josa, Head of Unit, Sustainable Transport and Urban Development, European Commission
  • JICA: Mr. Toshiyuki Nakamura, Special Advisor to the President, JICA
  • China: Mr. Xiaoming Liu, Counsellor for Cooperation, Mission of the People's Republic of China to the African Union
  • United Kingdom: H.E. Mr. Adam Drury, UK Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the African Union

Third session

  • African Development Bank Group (AfDB)： Ms. Joy Kategekwa, Director of the Regional Integration Coordination Office, AfDB
  • World Bank: Mr. Binyam Reja, Practice Manager for Eastern and Southern Africa (Transport), World Bank
  • United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA): Mr. Robert Lisinge, Director, Technology, Innovation, Connectivity and Infrastructure Development Division, UNECA

Group Photo of speakers from the “Aligning Global and Regional Partnerships towards Integrated and Sustainable Corridor Development in Africa” session　
From the left: AUC, UNECA, AfDB, European Commission, JICA, AUC (Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy), World Bank, Angola (Minister of Public Works, Urbanism and Housing), China
Photo credit: AUDA-NEPAD

Background

The Financing Summits have been co-hosted by the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD), and the government of the host country. It was previously held in Dakar, Senegal, in 2014 and 2023. This time, the third Financing Summit was held in Luanda, Angola for the first time.

At the second Dakar Financing Summit, the Mission of Japan to the AU was invited for the first time, and the Japanese Ambassador to the Mission participated as a speaker. This Financing Summit, held in Luanda, Angola, was the first time that JICA was officially invited and participated as a speaker.

Event Details

The overall theme of the Luanda Financing Summit （LFS） was “Capital, Corridors, Trade: Investing in Infrastructure for the AfCFTA and Shared Prosperity.” The Summit was held over four days, featuring various sessions.

During the LFS, the “High-Level Session on Aligning Global and Regional Partnerships towards Integrated and Sustainable Corridor Development in Africa” (hereinafter referred to as the “Partnership Session”）took place on 30 October 2025, with many development partners from both within and outside Africa. Approximately 150 participants joined the session. Mr. Nakamura, Special Advisor to the President, participated as a speaker in the session.

Mr. Nakamura, Special Advisor to the President, JICA, shared the following:
(a) the characteristics of JICA's corridor development;
(b) Japan/JICA’s cooperation aligned with African frameworks such as the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA);
(c) achievements regarding JICA's three priority corridors such as the Northern Corridor, the Nacala Corridor, and the West Africa Growth Ring; and
(d) TICAD, as a platform for co-creation with Africa, which emphasize the importance of African ownership and partnership.

Speakers from the “Aligning Global and Regional Partnerships towards Integrated and Sustainable Corridor Development in Africa” session　
From the left: AUC, European Commission, JICA, China, and UK representatives

The Way Forward

Respecting the principles of African ownership and partnership as advocated by TICAD, JICA is committed to contribute to regional integration in Africa through PIDA and towards realization of "Africa is more integrated and connected," in alignment with Africa's Agenda 2063 and the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan (STYIP).

By supporting these frameworks, JICA aims to enhance connectivity and integration across the continent, fostering sustainable development and economic growth.

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