Angola Hosts 17th U.S.-Africa Business Summit, Advocates Shift from Aid to Investment

Angola is playing host to the 17th U.S.-Africa Business Summit this week, drawing more than 2,000 high-level delegates from across Africa and the United States. The four-day event, currently underway in Luanda, has attracted leaders from government, business, and development sectors, all gathered to explore new pathways to prosperity through trade, investment, and strategic collaboration.

The summit, organized by the Corporate Council on Africa, opened with a shared commitment to deepen U.S.-Africa relations through mutual respect and economic ambition. In his welcome remarks at the opening ceremony, President João Lourenço of Angola delivered a statement that captured the spirit of the gathering. “It is time to replace the logic of aid with the logic of ambition and private investment,” he said, calling for a shift from dependency to a more balanced and future-driven partnership. His words set the tone for a summit centered not just on economic opportunity, but on reimagining the continent’s role in the global marketplace.

Presidents Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Hage Geingob of Namibia, and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia are among the African leaders present at the summit, alongside a strong U.S. delegation. Conversations have spanned key sectors including finance, agriculture, mining, critical minerals, and infrastructure, with the Lobito Corridor emerging as a focal point in discussions about Africa’s future connectivity and trade logistics.

Florie Liser, President of the Corporate Council on Africa, opened the event with a heartfelt call for collaboration. “Our collective efforts are shaping a future where the United States and nations of Africa thrive together,” she said. “Beyond deals, let’s strive for lasting transformation.” Her message emphasized that the summit is not just about closing transactions, but about building a shared future grounded in trust and shared goals.

Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), also took the stage to highlight the evolving nature of U.S.-Africa trade policy. He underscored the importance of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), noting its positive impact on both African farmers and U.S. investors. Wamkele Mene emphasized Africa’s readiness to be a co-architect of a rebalanced global trade system, one that moves beyond paternalism and toward a framework shaped by mutual interests and equitable growth.

Infrastructure has emerged as a key pillar in the summit’s agenda. With Africa facing a financing gap of between $130 to $170 billion annually in infrastructure needs, leaders are highlighting the role of development institutions in addressing this challenge. Over the past decade, the African Development Bank has invested more than $55 billion in infrastructure projects across the continent. President of the AfDB, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, shared that the bank is now establishing the Africa Risk Mitigation Agency, a new initiative that will consolidate various guarantee instruments into a single entity, helping to reduce investment risks across climate, equity, political, and refinancing categories.

Africa50, another major infrastructure investment platform, has committed over $8 billion to transformative projects. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), infrastructure investments in Africa continue to offer internal rates of return between 13% and 16%, nearly double the average in developed economies.

The U.S.-Africa Business Summit 2025 in Luanda marks a critical turning point for Africa’s global economic narrative. With strong leadership, strategic vision, and bold investment commitments, Angola has set the tone for the future of U.S.-Africa relations where private capital replaces aid, and ambition powers development.

The 17th U.S.-Africa Business Summit is expected to conclude later this week, with a host of bilateral and multilateral agreements likely to follow, reinforcing the continent’s position as a strategic global partner.