The Capital Reach Forum, which began on October 26, 2026, in Cotonou, Benin, seeks to address the challenge of mobilizing financial resources for enterprises and African economies. Despite the existence of a structured financial market, solid institutions, and diversified instruments, the mobilization of resources for the real economy remains a significant challenge. The forum brings together actors from the financial market to discuss solutions to this problem.
According to Théodore Ganflè, Director-General of Africaine de gestion et d’intermédiation (Sgi-Agi), the initiative takes place in a context where projects and capital exist but often fail to meet. The forum aims to facilitate concrete transactions by bringing entrepreneurs and potential investors together. It also seeks to increase awareness and utilization of various financing instruments, such as bank credit, guarantees, private equity, securitization, and bond markets.
The forum, themed "Finance africaine de proximité: rendre le marché plus accessible, plus utile et plus transactionnel," has three main objectives. Firstly, it aims to connect enterprises with investors who can finance their projects. Secondly, it seeks to increase the readability of financing instruments. Thirdly, it aims to expand the circle of investors to include institutions, companies, individuals, and the diaspora, promoting a culture of investment and shareholder engagement.
Didier Acouetey, special advisor to the President of the African Development Bank Group, represented at the forum, highlighted the paradox of existing resources not being sufficiently mobilized for the real economy. He emphasized the importance of creating jobs for young people by transforming available capital into concrete projects. Acouetey also mentioned the New African Financial Architecture for Development (Nafad), which aims to better coordinate financial ecosystem actors.
Benin's Minister of Economy and Finance, Aristide Médénou, shared his convictions on financing the economy at the national level. He stressed the importance of mobilizing domestic resources, which have increased from 9% of GDP in 2016 to 14% in 2025. Médénou also advocated for diversifying sources and financing instruments to reduce vulnerability to external shocks. He called for a shift from grant-based cooperation to leverage cooperation, using resources to multiply financing obtained from the market.
The Capital Reach Forum aims to facilitate matchmaking, partnerships, and the identification of promising projects. Discussions on expanding the investor base, accelerating transactions, and experiences with certain financial operations should contribute to bringing financial instruments closer to reality. The forum's outcomes are expected to help address the challenges of financing enterprises and promoting economic growth in Africa.
The event is part of a broader effort to enhance access to financing for enterprises and promote economic development in Africa. By fostering dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders, the forum seeks to contribute to the growth and development of African economies.
Key points
- The Capital Reach Forum aims to bridge the gap between enterprises, investors, and financial institutions to facilitate access to financing for businesses.
- The forum seeks to increase awareness and utilization of various financing instruments, such as bank credit, guarantees, private equity, securitization, and bond markets.
- The event aims to expand the circle of investors to include institutions, companies, individuals, and the diaspora, promoting a culture of investment and shareholder engagement.
