Mr Nicolas Forissier, France’s Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, has said France is eager to build a win-win partnership with Africa to secure a better future for younger and unborn generations.
Forissier spoke on the sidelines of the 2026 Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, themed “Africa Forward: Partnerships between Africa and France for Innovation and Growth.”
He described the summit, held from Monday to Tuesday, as a huge success, saying attendance far exceeded expectations.
According to him, organisers had projected 3,000 to 4,000 participants, but over 7,000 people attended the business forum alone, including African and French chief executives.
The minister said the summit brought together high-level dignitaries and many companies, creating excellent opportunities for business networking.
“I must say I was very impressed by the unique spirit and enthusiasm displayed throughout the summit,” he said. “Real friendships were formed and a strong willingness to build together. I made many contacts that I will follow up on as part of my job. So, it is a success.
“We have investments totalling 23 billion euros, of which the French side contributed 14 billion euros and the African side 9 billion euros.
“Key investment areas in Africa include infrastructure, transport, energy, health, agriculture, food industry, and digital technology. We are optimistic that in the next 20 years, Africa’s population will double,” he added.
Forissier reaffirmed France’s commitment to collaborating with African youth to build a sustainable legacy for future generations.
“We have to multiply these meetings. Part of my job is to build strong partnerships. We are not here to sell, but to implement projects that will create job opportunities and activities beneficial to both continents,” he said.
Also speaking on the sidelines of the summit, President of Dangote Industries, Mr Aliko Dangote, said the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is being expanded from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2028.
“We are currently working at full capacity and heading towards 700,000 barrels per day. We plan to reach 1.4 million barrels per day by 2028, alongside petrochemical expansion,” he said.
“Right now, we have entered deep discussions with countries here. Once agreements are signed, this refinery, along with one million tonnes of polypropylene production, will start this year.
“It is important for African countries to have refining infrastructure. We currently export 100 per cent of our crude and import finished products, leaving us at the mercy of the market. We want to stop exporting raw materials and importing finished goods.
“When you export raw materials, you get only five to 20 per cent of the value, then spend heavily to import the finished product. We want to change this, not just in refining but across many sectors,” Dangote added.
He noted that times are currently difficult for African farmers due to the high cost of farm inputs, especially as fertiliser prices have almost doubled. He added that most governments are heavily indebted and can no longer sustain subsidies.
Dangote also called for a diplomatic resolution between Iran and the United States, warning that the ongoing tensions are having severe economic consequences globally.
The summit was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, Kenyan President William Ruto, several African heads of state and government, chief executive officers, and captains of industry.
A 23 billion euro investment package aimed at reshaping France-Africa economic relations was announced during the two-day event.
