More than 700 participants from governments, the private sector, and international financial institutions will travel to Lomé.

This international event, organized by DMA Invest in partnership with Her Majesty’s Government, the Togolese Republic, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), and UK Export Finance (UKEF), brings together representatives from a dozen African countries, including Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, Mauritania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Senegal, as well as economic and diplomatic officials from the United Kingdom. The goal is to strengthen trade and investment partnerships between French-speaking Africa and the English-speaking world. To illustrate this, UKEF’s support for the region has grown from £4 million to over £1 billion in five years.

The choice of Togo: a powerful symbol of openness and regional leadership

For the first time, the UK-WCAF IW forum is being held on the African continent. This strategic choice confirms Togo’s growing role as a natural bridge between French-speaking Africa and the Commonwealth, following its official accession to the organization in 2022.

This recognition illustrates the country’s desire to diversify its economic partnerships, attract new investors, and promote open and pragmatic economic diplomacy. “Hosting this global event in the heart of Lomé symbolizes our commitment to building bridges between continents, cultures, and capitals in the service of inclusive and sustainable development,” said Minister of Finance and Budget Essowè Georges Barcola.

Under the leadership of Council President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe, Togo has established itself as a model of stability, reform, and economic growth, recognized for its progress in improving the business climate and developing modern infrastructure.

West and Central Africa: a booming market

With more than 350 million inhabitants, West Africa is one of the most dynamic markets in the world. Together with Central Africa, which has immense industrial potential, it is now an economic area undergoing rapid transformation. These two integrated areas form a real platform of opportunities for British companies in key sectors such as energy, infrastructure, agribusiness, logistics, finance, and digital services.

Since its first edition in 2022, the UK-WCAF IV Forum has already generated more than £1 billion in cumulative trade and investment. Among the notable achievements, more than £170 million has been mobilized for transformative infrastructure projects in Benin and Togo, including the development of a strategic road corridor linking the two countries to boost regional trade and West African economic integration.

Africa-UK cooperation on the rise

The forum will address topics important to the continent’s economic growth and resilience, including access to finance, support for SMEs, insurance and reinsurance, agribusiness, and education. These discussions will pave the way for new collaborations between London and Lomé under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme, which grants preferential access to the UK market for several African countries, including Togo.

Celebrating African excellence and impact

The “Awards for Excellence in Francophone Africa” will be presented at the close of the Forum, recognizing exemplary projects in innovation, sustainable development, and economic leadership on the continent.