Kisumu City will host the 4th Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) Sub-Sovereign Governments Network (AfSNET) Investment Conference from November 25 to 27, 2024. The event, set to take place at the Royal Swiss Hotel, is expected to bring together prominent leaders from across Africa, including heads of state, governors, mayors, policymakers, financial institutions, and stakeholders, all committed to advancing intra-African trade, regional integration, and sustainable economic development.
This year’s AfSNET will serve as a platform to encourage investment, enhance educational and cultural exchanges among sub-sovereign governments, and operationalize the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
According to an Afreximbank statement, the forum will attract members of the Forum of Regions of Africa (FORAF), private sector leaders, investors, development partners, and representatives from the diaspora.
Under the theme “Leveraging the AfCFTA for Sustainable Trade and Investment: A Development Pathway for African Sub-Sovereigns,” the conference aims to promote investment and industrialization at the sub-sovereign level, empower local governments to drive economic growth, and strengthen partnerships between governments, investors, and development partners in AfCFTA implementation.
The conference will position Kisumu as an emerging investment hub on both regional and global development stages. Afreximbank will also introduce digital products designed to promote intra-Africa trade.
Confirmed attendees include Afreximbank President Prof. Benedict Oramah, United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLGA) Secretary General Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o, AfCFTA Secretary General Wamkele Mene, and Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry Salim Mvurya.
The first AfSNET conference took place in Durban, South Africa, alongside the 2021 Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2021).
