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Africa-Singapore Business Forum will bridge capabilities and bolster ties between dynamic markets
African legal experts will feature as more than 700 business and government leaders from across Africa and Asia are set to convene in Singapore over 26-28 August to share insights, build networks and cement partnerships.
The upcoming Africa-Singapore Business Forum (ASBF) 2025 holds significant potential for growing collaboration between Africa and Asia, says leading Nigerian lawyer, businessman, and philanthropist Gbenga Oyebode, the Chairman of ALN.
“Singapore’s advanced fintech ecosystem and expertise in sustainable finance can provide African businesses with valuable tools and frameworks to support economic integration,” Oyebode told Africa Legal. “By leveraging opportunities like the African Continental Free Trade Area and encouraging partnerships between Singapore and African organisations, there is an opportunity to strategically deploy resources.”
Oyebode will be one of a number of African business and government leaders to speak at the eighth edition of the biennial ASBF, which will be held at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront, Singapore across 26-28 August 2025. This year’s theme of “Bridging Capabilities, Charting Sustainable Growth” underscores the growing economic ties and collaborations between Africa’s dynamic markets and Singapore as a global hub of finance, connectivity and innovation.
“I believe a collaborative approach between global and local stakeholders could play a key role in fostering sustainable growth and innovation across the continent,” says Oyebode. He will be joined in Singapore by fellow African leaders and speakers including Karim Anjarwalla, Senior Partner at ALN Kenya; Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of Africa Finance Corporation; Aisha Rimi, CEO of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission; John Mwendwa, CEO of the Kenya Investment Authority; Oudad W. Kheir, COO of Orascom Development; George Mukono, Director of Investment Promotion at the Tanzania Investment Centre; Hossam Heiba, President of the Egypt General Authority for Investment & Free Zones; and several other key trade and investments figures representing various African nations.
Mary Boakye, CEO of Oriol Associates, a strategic advisory firm helping international businesses and organisations make successful and responsible investments in sub-Saharan Africa, has seen the benefits of strategic partnerships between Singaporean and African businesses and governments over the past 15 years.
“In Ghana, Singapore has, amongst other things, contributed significantly to the development of SME financing tools. The long-term and innovative approach taken by Singapore makes it the ideal partner for ambitious and growing sectors in Africa.”
ASBF 2025 comes against the backdrop of an increasingly complex international trade environment and market fragmentation, with market diversification now an imperative, says Rahul Ghosh, Director for Middle East and Africa at EnterpriseSG.
“With a large consumer and emerging industrial base, Africa represents an attractive market for diversification. By bringing together businesses across Africa and Asia, ASBF 2025 will be the catalyst for strategic partnerships and investments.”
Africa-Singapore partnerships offer strategic value for businesses from both regions, says Ghosh. “With our deep expertise and networks in Africa, Enterprise Singapore will continue to drive more partnerships at this crucial time, encouraging business to capture opportunities beyond traditional sectors, particularly in emerging ones such as the digital economy and carbon market solutions.”