This article was created with support from the African Singapore Business Forum
As the world's most pressing challenges require bold solutions, deepening collaboration between Africa and Singapore is set to shape the future of global trade and sustainability. This vision comes into play in the 8th edition of the Africa Singapore Business Forum (ASBF) 2025, bringing together over 700 leaders and innovators to drive these partnerships.
The biennial forum, hosted by Singapore's government agency Enterprise Singapore, exists as an outstanding platform that forgets the economic connections between the dynamic markets of Africa and Singapore's global hub of finance, connectivity and innovation.
ASBF 2025, which takes place at Singapore's Grand Coptone Waterfront Hotel between August 26th and 28th, will be rolled out over three days and weave business matching and networking opportunities to promote overall sessions, workshops and, most importantly, partnerships. C-Suite executives, policy makers and entrepreneurs discuss topics related to energy transition and policy to drive sustainability efforts. The role of fintech and logistics in unlocking consumer potential. and cutting-edge technology-driven solutions that can contribute to rapid urban development across the continent's fast-growing cities.
“ASBF 2025 will be at a critical time, with market diversification becoming an indispensable backdrop of an increasingly complex international trade environment and market fragmentation,” said Rahul Ghosh, director of Enterprise Singapore in the Middle East and Africa.
“Enterprise Singapore wants to promote more African Singapore partnerships not only in the traditional sector, but also in emerging sectors that did not exist in the African region a decade ago,” adds Ghosh. “For example, the recent increase in implementation contracts signed between Singapore and African countries such as Rwanda has shown interest in cooperation in emerging sectors such as the carbon market. ASBF2025 serves as a platform to catalyze more economic debate and collaboration.”
Bridge between trade and investment
The African continent presents a promising place for Singaporean companies to expand given the young population, middle class growth and rapid urbanization in Africa. Furthermore, the ongoing implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AFCFTA) holds the promise to promote greater economic integration as the world's largest free trade area, opening up the business possibilities of the continent. The African Export and Export Bank (Afreximbank) forecasts that intracontinental commerce will increase by 6.6% each year from 2025 to 2028.
Conversely, the strategic location in Singapore means it serves as an ideal gateway to Asia's vast consumer market and supply chain. It is uniquely positioned to promote integration into Africa's global trade network. Currently, there are 1,440 African companies in Singapore, showing interest in setting up an Asian hub in Singapore to take advantage of a stable business environment and plug in to increase business collaboration between the north and south.
An example is Tymebank, a digital bank in South Africa. Tymebank is a pioneer in providing digital and cost-effective banking solutions. We started our business in Singapore in 2019. In 2021, we made a strategic decision to establish a regional headquarters in Singapore. Since then, Tymebank has expanded its digital banking business to the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia.
The keynote on the theme of “Contributions to Africa's Tomorrow” sets the tone for such collaboration. Key business leaders such as Viswanathan Shankar, CEO of Gateway Partners, share opportunities in the African business environment, while public sector leaders such as Samaila Zubairu, president and CEO of Africa Finance Corporation, share opportunities from AFCFTA-led regional integration.
Powerful development-driven energy transition
Africa stands in the point of the green revolution, from sustainable agriculture in Ghana and wind projects in Kenya to waste to energy projects in South Africa and green hydrogen projects in Algeria. Such developments have a commitment to foster growth in Africa and beyond, while reducing carbon footprints. Removing this possibility requires important expertise, infrastructure and capital.
The forum explores how Singapore's strengths in green finance, clean energy technologies and sustainable urban planning can complement Africa's ambitions. Representatives will explore the complexities of sustainable funding, carbon offset markets and circular economy models, and explore how companies can coordinate profitability with planetary health.
Industry leaders such as Frederick Teo, CEO of Singapore-based investment firm Genzero, focused on generating sustainable returns, share perspectives on how carbon markets bridge the funding gap for sustainable development in Africa, drawn from the experience of Climate Impact X, global markets and carbon credit exchange. CarbonCap Managing Director Randhir Juddoo shares ground-level insights from the implementation of nature-based carbon projects across Africa, highlighting a practical approach to aligning community benefits with investor returns.
Meet growing consumer needs through innovation and digitalization
There are many possibilities for collaboration between both digitally driven economies. Several of Singapore's approaches to digital policies and infrastructure, including regulatory sandboxes for pilots and testing, could provide a reference model for policymakers in Africa.
Meanwhile, African innovators bring agility and creativity to partnerships. The continental startup ecosystem is a melting pot of creativity, with fintech giants in Kenya, Nigerian startup unicorns and South African e-commerce innovators rewriting their economic narratives.
Some of these technologies and digital solutions are creating the backbone that unlocks consumer potential and meets the growing population needs of Africa. Therefore, ASBF 2025 will not only explore key trends in the African consumer market, but also consider the role of fintech and mobile money, as well as transportation, logistics and supply chain solutions as commercial enablers across the continent.
The forum also exemplifies the potential of using Ezra, Singapore's alternative data and non-traditional scoring algorithms to provide inter-business (B2B) credit in emerging markets, filling the credit gap in Africa and promoting economic opportunities.
ASBF 2025 – Connect Africa to Asia
Beyond plenary sessions, representatives can dig deeper into specific dialogues, workshops and site visits hosted by ASBF partners. These cover a myriad of topics, including access to green finance, investment in Africa, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) development. ASBF's distinctive business matching sessions continue as Enterprise Singapore taps its network to promote one-to-one meetings. Past forums have brought partnerships across different sectors and are committed to building on this legacy for 2025.
“For example, ASBF 2023 saw a manufacturing partnership between Singapore's industrial solutions provider Nivesal and Ganian Sky 40-40,” says Rahul Ghosh. “Two years later, this partnership will be successful in Takoradi's cutting-edge polymer-based building materials factory, serving not only the Ghana market but also the neighbouring region. There is already ongoing debate in the second project, and this collaboration will nurture the long-term concrete outcomes of the Singapore Business Partnership through ASBF.”
ASBF 2025 will play a role in driving Africa's green economy and digital transformation through partnerships with Singapore, strengthening the power of communities and small businesses, and unlocking the potential of renewable energy and technology on the continent.
By working together, Africa and Singapore can redefine progress and leverage collaboration to overcome challenges.
