It is with great honour and strong commitment that I welcome you to the first edition of the OIC Investment Forum in Africa, to be held in Bamako from December 2 to 4, 2025.

This Forum reflects a clear ambition: to position Africa and particularly OIC African member countries as a leading destination for impactful and sustainable investment. Through this initiative, the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade (ICDT) aims to open a new chapter in economic cooperation within the OIC, with a central focus on inclusive growth, sustainable development, and shared value creation.

Africa holds immense untapped potential: abundant natural resources, a dynamic and youthful population, expanding markets, and a business environment that continues to improve. This Forum is designed as a strategic platform to connect investors with concrete opportunities across key sectors such as agriculture, energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, healthcare, and digital technologies.

Our ambition is to boost intra-OIC investment flows, foster strong partnerships between public and private actors, and support African member states in their economic transformation efforts. More than just a space for dialogue, this Forum is intended to be an accelerator for projects, innovative solutions, and sustainable alliances.

I warmly thank the Government of the Republic of Mali for its exemplary support in organizing this major event, as well as all our institutional, financial, and private sector partners.

On behalf of the ICDT, I invite you to make the most of this unique opportunity to shape Africa’s future at the heart of the OIC community.