The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has convened the inaugural London–Africa Business Summit at City Hall, bringing together more than 200 business leaders, investors, and policymakers from across Africa and the United Kingdom in a bid to strengthen trade relations and expand investment opportunities between both regions.
The summit, held in the heart of the City of London, marks a significant milestone in London’s growing economic engagement with Africa and builds on the Mayor’s 2025 trade mission to Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa, the first of its kind led by a London Mayor.
According to City Hall, the initiative aims to position London as a leading global gateway for African enterprise seeking international expansion and capital investment.
Speaking at the event, Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was “proud to host City Hall’s first ever London–Africa Business Summit,” noting that London continues to stand as “one of the best cities in the world for African companies to expand internationally and attract investment.”
He added that the growing number of African companies listed on the London Stock Exchange underscores the strength of economic ties between both regions.
Since the Mayor’s trade mission in July 2025, African businesses have reportedly invested more than £30 million into London through foreign direct investment, further reinforcing confidence in the UK capital as a global investment hub.
City Hall also highlighted that 117 African companies are currently listed on the London Stock Exchange, more than on any other exchange globally. These include major firms such as Airtel Africa and Seplat Energy, spanning sectors including telecommunications, energy, finance, and technology.
By comparison, fewer than 20 African companies are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, a statistic officials say underscores London’s long-standing financial and cultural links with the African continent.
The summit also comes amid growing trade momentum between the United Kingdom and Africa. Total UK–Africa trade reached approximately £52 billion in 2025, with UK exports to African markets rising to nearly £26.2 billion, reflecting increasing demand for British goods and services.
Officials at the event noted that Africa is increasingly viewed as a key global growth frontier, driven by rapid urbanisation, infrastructure development, population growth, and expanding consumer markets.
The UK government currently maintains trade agreements covering 18 African countries and remains one of the continent’s top 10 trading partners.
London’s economic strategy was also a key focus of the summit. The Mayor’s Growth Plan outlines ambitions to attract increased foreign direct investment to help grow the city’s economy by £107 billion by 2035 and create approximately 150,000 jobs by 2028.
London & Partners, the Mayor’s growth agency, said it continues to support cross-border collaboration between London and African markets through business acceleration programmes and trade missions.
A spokesperson noted that London remains “the leading destination for African investment in Europe and the United States, second globally only to Dubai.” The summit further explored opportunities for collaboration across sectors such as financial services, digital technology, education, healthcare, energy transition, infrastructure, and the creative industries.
Representatives from African and UK institutions, including SOAS University of London, the Nigerian Exchange Group, Ventures 54, and the London Africa Network, participated in discussions aimed at deepening partnerships and facilitating sustainable economic growth.
Mr. Mark Smithson, Country Director at the UK Department for Business and Trade (Nigeria and Anglo West Africa), described the summit as a platform that “brings together ambition, capital, and creativity,” adding that efforts are underway to “unlock investment, create jobs, and deliver tangible economic outcomes across both regions.”
Similarly, Soren Nikolajsen, Managing Director for Industry Engagement at NatWest, said London remains “one of the world’s leading destinations for international investment,” adding that the summit provides an opportunity to strengthen relationships and support long-term growth.
Olukorede (K.O.) Adenowo, Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank UK, also emphasized the importance of the Africa–UK economic corridor.
According to him, “London remains a powerful gateway for African businesses seeking to scale internationally, while Africa offers compelling long-term investment potential.” He added that stronger collaboration between both regions would help unlock greater capital flows and sustainable growth.
Dylan Martin, Chief Executive Officer of Teybridge Capital, described the company’s expansion in London as “an important milestone” reflecting confidence in the UK market and its financial ecosystem.
The summit highlighted recent developments strengthening London–Africa business ties, including expansions by African and UK-linked firms, new job creation, and cross-border partnerships facilitated by London & Partners’ Grow London Global Programme.
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