Ould Tah Leads Bold Push to Harness Africa’s Domestic Investment Potential
Since assuming office, Sidi Ould Tah, President of the Bank Group, has intensified engagements with Africa’s financial stakeholders in a bid to accelerate inclusive and sustainable development across the continent.
Over the past week, President Ould Tah met with leaders from social security funds, sovereign investment institutions, and African guarantee organisations, building on momentum from recent discussions at the 80th United Nations General Assembly and the World Bank–IMF Annual Meetings.
Speaking in Abidjan, Ould Tah emphasised the need for African financial institutions to operate in a coordinated manner to unlock domestic capital for transformative investments. Central to his strategy is the “Four Cardinal Points” framework, which prioritises capital mobilisation, financial system reform, demographic potential, and resilient infrastructure.
During meetings with heads of sovereign funds, Ould Tah outlined plans for an African Sovereign Borrowing Platform to channel capital towards development projects, enhance market access, and reduce borrowing costs.
He highlighted that African sovereign wealth funds alone hold approximately US$153 billion, with broader institutional investors contributing nearly US$1 trillion, offering a solid foundation for continental investment.
The President also convened leaders of key guarantee institutions, including FAGACE, AGF, FSA, and ATIDI, to strengthen partnerships aimed at boosting Africa’s financial sovereignty. These discussions focused on harmonising regulations, reducing sector fragmentation, and promoting access to finance, trade, and investment across the continent.
Ould Tah’s engagement reflects a strategic vision to cement the Bank Group’s leadership as Africa’s premier development finance institution, leveraging collective African capital to support initiatives under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and to drive green and climate-resilient infrastructure development.
Through these coordinated efforts, the Bank Group under Ould Tah is positioning Africa to mobilise its own financial resources, ensuring sustainable growth, economic resilience, and a future-ready development model for the continent.
