The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, today hosted City Hall’s inaugural London-Africa Business Summit, bringing together more than 200 business leaders, investors and policymakers from across
Africa and the UK to strengthen trade, investment and commercial partnerships between London and African markets.
The summit marks a significant milestone in London’s growing economic relationship with Africa and follows the Mayor’s landmark trade mission to Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa in 2025—the first official trade mission to the continent led by a London Mayor.
Held in the City of London, the event welcomed senior representatives from government, business and academia, including Ghana’s Minister of Trade for Agribusiness and Industry, alongside organisations such as SOAS, the Nigerian Exchange Group, Ventures 54 and the London Africa Network. Discussions focused on expanding investment opportunities, supporting business growth and positioning London as the international destination of choice for African companies seeking global expansion.
Since the Mayor’s trade mission last year, African businesses have invested more than £30 million into London through foreign direct investment, highlighting growing confidence in the capital as a gateway to international markets.
London continues to play a unique role in supporting African business growth. With 117 African organisations listed on the London Stock Exchange—more than any other stock exchange globally—the capital remains the leading international financial hub for African companies. These organisations span sectors including telecommunications, finance, energy and technology, and include major businesses such as Airtel Africa and Seplat Energy.
The summit comes amid strengthening economic ties between the UK and Africa. Total UK-Africa trade reached approximately £52 billion in 2025, while UK exports to African markets rose to nearly £26.2 billion, demonstrating continued demand for British goods and services despite ongoing global economic challenges.
Africa is increasingly recognised as one of the world’s most dynamic growth regions, driven by rapid urbanisation, infrastructure development, technological innovation and a growing consumer base. The UK remains among Africa’s top trading partners and has trade agreements covering 18 countries across the continent.
The relationship is further strengthened by deep people-to-people connections. The UK is home to one of the world’s largest Nigerian diaspora communities outside Nigeria, with an estimated 215,000 Nigerians living across the country, contributing significantly to business, culture and innovation.
The London-Africa Business Summit also highlighted opportunities for collaboration across key growth sectors, including financial services, digital technology, education, healthcare, clean energy, infrastructure and the creative industries. As London continues to attract global talent, investment and enterprise, the capital is well positioned to deepen its role as a strategic partner for African businesses and investors.
The summit supports the ambitions set out in the Mayor’s London Growth Plan, which aims to grow London’s economy by £107 billion by 2035 and help create 150,000 good jobs by 2028 through increased trade, innovation and foreign direct investment.
London remains the leading destination for African foreign direct investment across Europe and the United States and ranks second globally outside Africa, behind only Dubai, reinforcing its status as a gateway for international growth and investment.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I am proud to host City Hall’s first ever London-Africa business Summit, bringing together investors, entrepreneurs and businesses to showcase London as the best city in the world for African companies to expand internationally and attract investment. With more African companies listed on the London Stock Exchange than any other exchange, it is one of the most globally important growth regions. I am delighted that my African trade mission last year has encouraged both inward investment and outward expansion, creating jobs and further strengthening the links between us. I look forward to more opportunities developing from this Summit as we continue to build a better, more prosperous London for everyone.”
Soren Nikolajsen, Managing Director, Industry Engagement Defence and Trade at Natwest said: “London remains one of the world’s leading destinations for international investment, underpinned by its deep financial expertise and global connectivity. Bringing together investors from across Africa in this way is a valuable opportunity to strengthen relationships, showcase the breadth of opportunity here, and support long-term, mutually beneficial growth.”
Olukorede (K.O.) Adenowo, Chief Executive Officer, FirstBank UK, said: “FirstBank UK is proud to support the strengthening of the Africa–UK corridor, where growing demand for capital and expertise continues to drive cross-border opportunity. London remains a powerful gateway for African businesses seeking to scale internationally, while Africa offers compelling long-term investment potential.
“At FirstBank UK, we are focused on supporting cross-border trade and facilitating capital flows by connecting clients to global markets and structuring bankable opportunities. Through stronger collaboration, we can unlock greater investment and deliver sustainable growth across both regions.”
Dylan Martin, Chief Executive Officer of Teybridge Capital said: "Our expansion in London marks an important milestone for Teybridge Capital Europe and reflects the strength of our growth in the UK market. With over 60 per cent of our client base in the UK, this was a natural step in deepening our presence on the ground and investing in a high-performance, locally based team to support our next phase of growth." Photo by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street, Wikimedia commons.
