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At least 10 billion dollars a year is the estimate that the continent expects to grow in the green industrial infrastructure market as a distinct asset, African Union Commissioner Josefa Correia Sacko said in New York.
The diplomat, who was speaking at a summit on the investment market signalling framework for green industrialisation on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, considered it a significant step towards ensuring that the continent plays a central role in the global green industrial economy.
“Your presence here today is a recognition of the immense potential that these partnerships have to transform Africa’s economy and, more importantly, to drive the global green economy,” she emphasised.
The AU Commissioner for Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment stressed that there is a unique opportunity to establish Africa’s green industrial infrastructure as a globally competitive and investable asset class – one that not only meets the pressing demands of ‘our time’ of rapid industrialisation, but also opens the door to sustainable prosperity for future generations.
In her view, achieving this goal requires the creation of an invaluable platform to engage and support African Heads of State and Government as they lead climate action across the continent, including investors, and philanthropic organisations through institutional partnerships.
“However, this journey cannot be travelled alone. It is through strategic collaboration between investors, institutions and governments, through institutional partnerships, that we can fully realise the potential of Africa’s green industrial infrastructure and meet the investment needs of nationally determined contributions,” she said.
Ambassador Josefa Sacko emphasised that Africa’s growth trajectory and that of its investment portfolios can be strengthened through green industrial infrastructure in Africa, contributing to global climate goals, as well as positioning itself for long-term, risk-adjusted and climate-friendly returns.
She said that the continent offers unique opportunities for scalable, high-impact investments in clean energy, sustainable agriculture and climate-resilient infrastructure.
“Together, we can ensure that Africa is not just a participant, but a leader in this new industrial revolution and a global centre for the manufacture of essential green technologies,” she stressed.
She said aligning Africa’s development needs with the growth strategies of institutional investors is a powerful model for tackling the climate crisis and boosting economic development at the same time.
“By focusing on expanding green infrastructure investments, we create opportunities for mutual growth – impacting millions of lives, creating jobs and generating substantial returns on investment,” the AU Commissioner argued.
She reaffirmed the African Union’s commitment to working closely with institutional investors, philanthropic organisations and private sector partners through institutional public-investor partnerships – to ensure that the future of the green industry in Africa is not just a possibility, but an investable reality.
In conclusion, she noted the need for continued and close engagement with the African Union, specifically to co-create ambitious and investable input-level programmes, in line with the work of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC).
