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By Chinenye Anuforo
Business leaders, investors, policymakers and entrepreneurs from Africa, the United States and other global markets have called for stronger commercial partnerships to translate Africa’s growing global influence into increased trade and investment opportunities.
The call was made at the fourth edition of the Africa Breakfast Conversations (ABC 2026), held at the World Trade Center in New York on September 25, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The event, convened by Allison Worldwide and African media and communications company, BHM, was themed, “Africa’s Next Chapter: Trade, Partnership, Investment & Global Influence.”
The gathering examined Africa’s evolving economic relationship with the United States and global markets, with discussions focusing on trade, investment, entrepreneurship, policy and the continent’s ability to convert its growing influence into tangible commercial value.
The discussions come against the backdrop of more than $79 billion in total U.S. trade in goods and services with Sub-Saharan Africa, while African exports account for less than one per cent of total U.S. imports.
Participants also examined the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which brings together 55 African countries, more than 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP of about $3.4 trillion.
The speakers noted that deeper intra-African trade, stronger connections with international markets and increased investment could help African businesses scale beyond their domestic markets.
Attention was also drawn to the continent’s technology ecosystem, with African startup funding reported to have rebounded to $4.1 billion, representing a 25 per cent year-on-year increase.
However, participants identified access to capital, infrastructure and supportive policies as critical requirements for sustaining the continent’s economic growth.
The estimated $100 billion annual trade finance gap across Africa was also highlighted as one of the challenges limiting the ability of businesses to participate fully in regional and international trade.
Speaking at the event, Managing Director, Africa at Allison Worldwide, Claudine Moore, said stronger commercial partnerships would be important as the economic relationship between Africa, the U.S. and other global markets evolves.
She said the event provided an opportunity to bring business leaders, policymakers, investors and entrepreneurs together to identify areas where collaboration could unlock greater commercial opportunities.
Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer of BHM Holdings, Ayeni Adekunle, said Africa’s future economic potential would depend on sustained investment and the ability to build businesses capable of competing internationally.
Adekunle said there was a need to focus on the possibilities available to African entrepreneurs despite the challenges confronting businesses across the continent.
“I like to look into the future and imagine what is possible if we build 10 or 20 global companies out of Nigeria,” he said.
He noted that entrepreneurs were already building businesses across borders, while investors were deploying capital and policymakers were working to create conditions for economic growth.
According to him, the opportunity lies in bringing these groups together around a shared commercial agenda capable of turning Africa’s growing global influence into tangible economic value.
The event featured speakers including Hackim Abdul, Director, Africa Public Sector Banking at Citi; Yasamin Alttahir, Director of Global Marketing, Communications and External Affairs at The King’s Trust International; Kayode Akintemi, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of News Central TV; Akunna Cook, former Deputy Secretary of State for African Affairs in the Biden-Harris Administration and Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Next Narrative Africa; and Otunba (Dr.) Bimbola Ashiru, Chairman, Blackcod Group and Group Director, Odu’a Investment Company Limited.
The Africa Breakfast Conversations has become a platform for African, American and global business leaders to engage on economic and commercial issues on the sidelines of UNGA.
Previous editions featured business and investment leaders including Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of Access Holdings and Coronation Group; Iyin Aboyeji, Founding Partner at Future Africa; and Tobe Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services Officer at MTN Nigeria, alongside executives from organisations including The King’s Trust, Goldman Sachs, Citi, NBA Africa and UBA.
The 2026 edition focused on the future of economic collaboration between Africa, the United States and global markets, with particular emphasis on trade, investment, partnership and Africa’s growing global influence.
