The 17th U.S.–Africa Business Summit, held in Luanda, Angola, from June 22 to 25, 2025, closed with more than $2.5 billion in new deals and commercial commitments, setting a new record for U.S.–Africa trade and investment engagement.
The event, hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa in partnership with the President of Angola, drew over 2,700 delegates, including 12 African heads of state and senior U.S. government officials, solidifying the summit’s status as a landmark gathering.
According to the U.S. Department of State, the summit embodied the American government’s commitment to deepening investment ties with African countries through private sector-led growth. The latest edition placed less emphasis on foreign aid and more on mobilizing commercial capital to build infrastructure, drive industrialization, and boost regional connectivity.
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“This engagement reflects the United States’ commitment to treating African nations as peers and partners in achieving mutual prosperity through investment-led growth,” the Department said.
Several headline-grabbing announcements defined the summit’s outcomes. Florida-based Amer-Con Corporation signed a strategic partnership with Angola’s Cargo and Logistics Certification Regulatory Agency to construct and operate 22 grain silo terminals along the Lobito Corridor. The project, backed by the U.S. Export-Import Bank, is expected to significantly boost Angola’s food security and agricultural logistics capacity.
Another major deal came from Cybastion, a U.S. cybersecurity firm, which partnered with Angola Telecom to launch a $170 million infrastructure project aimed at expanding Angola’s digital backbone. The investment includes cybersecurity upgrades, digital literacy programs, and high-speed connectivity across underserved regions.
In Sierra Leone, CEC Africa signed a memorandum of understanding with American partners and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to build West Africa’s first U.S.-sourced liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal. The facility will support the 108-megawatt Nant Power Project, enabling the delivery of affordable electricity for industrial and household use.
Another key announcement came from the Ruzizi III Holding Power Company, which confirmed a partnership with U.S.-based Anzana Electric Group to secure a 10 percent equity stake in a $760 million hydropower project spanning Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The project is expected to provide electricity to over 30 million people across the region, marking a major step forward in energy access and cross-border economic cooperation.
In Ethiopia, Ethiopia Investment Holdings signed an agreement with U.S. International Finance Partners to invest more than $200 million in tourism infrastructure, including luxury hotels and branded residences. The initiative reflects growing interest in Ethiopia’s economic diversification and tourism potential.
Meanwhile, energy infrastructure was a focal point of U.S.–Africa cooperation. A $1.5 billion agreement was reached between Hydro-Link and the Angolan government to construct a 1,150-kilometer electricity transmission line connecting hydropower plants in Angola to the mineral-rich Kolwezi region of the DRC. The project will enable the delivery of up to 1.2 gigawatts of power to support critical mining operations, helping to bridge the energy gap in one of the world’s most vital sources of cobalt and copper.
U.S. officials, led by Ambassador Troy Fitrell and senior representatives from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, the Export-Import Bank, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, emphasized that these agreements are designed not only to increase exports but also to facilitate mutual prosperity. The delegation reaffirmed President Trump’s Commercial Diplomacy Strategy for Africa, which aims to advance trade relationships rooted in shared interests.
What distinguishes this summit from past editions is the scale of private sector mobilization and the broad geographic distribution of deals across multiple African sub-regions. From energy and infrastructure to agriculture, digital technology, and tourism, the summit illustrated a shift in U.S. policy toward Africa—from donor-recipient dynamics to equal investment partnerships.
“The record turnout underscores a shared determination by U.S. and African leaders to dramatically scale trade and investment. The goal is not only to promote U.S. exports but also to create long-term economic partnerships across the continent,” the Department added.
The summit’s focus also aligned with the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to create a single market for goods and services across the continent. By improving logistics and digital infrastructure, and creating cross-border energy systems, many of the announced projects are expected to support the operationalization of AfCFTA and accelerate regional integration.
Beyond the headline deals, the summit underscored growing consensus among African leaders and U.S. investors that a collaborative, investment-driven approach is the key to unlocking Africa’s long-term potential. It also highlighted America’s intention to counter the influence of China and other global powers by offering more transparent, commercially viable investment alternatives.
In all, the 17th U.S.–Africa Business Summit delivered not only billions in investment pledges but also a blueprint for a more equitable economic relationship—anchored in trade, enterprise, and shared development. The challenge going forward will be turning memoranda of understanding into tangible projects that transform sectors and uplift communities across the continent.