By NEWSCOUNT Desk
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) will hold the sixth African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network (AfSNET) Investment Conference in Calabar, Cross River State, from November 12 to 14, 2026, with funding for state-level projects and the expansion of African trade expected to feature prominently.
The conference will bring together subnational governments, investors, development finance institutions and private-sector representatives to discuss investment opportunities and ways of financing projects that can support economic growth across Africa.
With the theme, “The Role of Sub-Sovereigns in Catalysing Development through Trade and Investments,” the meeting will focus on how state and regional governments can attract private investment, develop infrastructure and use their local resources to create jobs and expand business activities.
Many state governments face growing demands for roads, electricity, healthcare, education, water supply and industrial infrastructure, often with limited funds to meet these needs. The conference will provide an opportunity to discuss how governments can work with investors and financial institutions to finance projects beyond their annual budget allocations.
Participants are expected to examine investment proposals, discuss financing arrangements and explore partnerships between governments and businesses. The programme will include plenary sessions, exhibitions and business-to-business meetings, giving participating governments the opportunity to present projects and engage prospective investors.
For Cross River State, the conference offers an opportunity to showcase its investment prospects, including opportunities in agriculture, tourism, maritime activities, infrastructure and commerce.
Afreximbank established AfSNET in 2021 in collaboration with the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The network seeks to help subnational governments play a greater role in African trade by improving their capacity to attract investment, develop industrial projects and support the movement of goods and services across borders.
The initiative recognises that state and regional governments are important to trade and industrial development because of their responsibilities for local infrastructure, land administration, investment promotion and the provision of services needed by businesses.
Previous AfSNET Investment Conferences were held in Durban, South Africa, in 2021; Abuja, Nigeria, in 2022; Cairo, Egypt, in 2023; and Kisumu, Kenya, in 2024.
Projects associated with the network’s development agenda include industrial parks and special economic zones in Ogun State, Nigeria, as well as deep-seaport development initiatives in Cross River State. Such projects are intended to support production, create business opportunities and improve the infrastructure needed for trade.
The Calabar meeting will also take place against the backdrop of efforts to implement the AfCFTA, which seeks to expand trade among African countries and create a wider market for goods and services produced on the continent.
For the agreement to deliver its expected benefits, governments must address infrastructure gaps, strengthen local production and make it easier for businesses to operate and trade across national borders.
The conference is expected to bring subnational governments and potential financiers together to discuss practical ways of funding development projects and increasing their contribution to Africa’s trade and investment drive.
