Financial Centers Bridge the Gap Between Africa and Asia as Investment Relations Deepen

The Africa Roundtable of Financial Centres, in collaboration with the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC), highlighted the accelerating economic integration between Africa and Asia. Over the past two decades, financial hubs—led by Hong Kong and five of the leading financial centers in Africa—have emerged as the primary gateways for capital, innovation, and sustainable growth between the two continents.

Hong Kong: The Strategic Gateway:

As Asian investors seek diversified destinations and African markets deepen regional integration, Hong Kong has solidified its position as a central hub. Its stable regulatory environment and sophisticated capital markets allow both public and private investors to efficiently channel funds into high-growth African sectors.

Conversely, African sovereign wealth funds and major corporations are increasingly leveraging Hong Kong for:
● Trade Financing: Facilitating seamless commodity and supply-chain flows.
● Portfolio Diversification: Accessing global investment opportunities.
● Capital Market Access: Utilizing Hong Kong’s robust financial infrastructure for growth.

By aligning Asia’s formidable capital and technological prowess with Africa’s ground-level expertise and growth ambition we can build the bridges that will define the next chapter of global prosperity”

— Obi Ibekwe, Chair, Africa Roundtable of Financial Centres

A Multilateral Network of Hubs

The relationship is supported by a network of critical African financial hubs including Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, and Rwanda. These centers serve as trusted entry points, providing the information and facilitation necessary for international trade. Major banking institutions continue to play a pivotal role as neutral intermediaries between both Asian and African markets, offering structured investment products specifically tailored to the unique needs of African markets.

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BRIDGING CONTINENTS: Unlocking Asia–Africa Opportunities:

In conjunction with the Asian Financial Forum taking place on 26 and 27 January 2026 in Hong Kong, the Africa Roundtable of Financial Centres, has formally launched a publication titled Bridging Continents: Unlocking Asia – Africa Opportunities, commissioned by Hong Kong’s Financial Services Development Council. The publication provides a comprehensive and forward looking analysis of the rapidly expanding trade, investment, and financial linkages between Asia and Africa. It highlights the scale of untapped opportunities across priority sectors including financial services, infrastructure, manufacturing, technology, energy, agribusiness, and professional services. It also examines the evolving role of financial centres as critical gateways for capital mobilisation, risk intermediation, and cross border partnerships between both continents.

The launch of the publication underscores the growing strategic importance of AsiaAfrica collaboration within the global financial system. It reflects a shared ambition to move from dialogue to delivery, strengthening connectivity between both continents and laying the foundation for sustained trade growth, investment expansion, and mutually beneficial economic development in the years ahead.

The Future: Fintech and Digital Innovation:

While infrastructure and natural resources remain pillars of the partnership, the future of Africa-Asia relations is shifting toward digital finance. The rapid adoption of mobile money and digital banking across Africa, paired with Asia’s booming fintech ecosystems, is creating new pathways for collaboration that transcend traditional industry boundaries.