AfDB and Algeria Strengthen Commitment to African Startups
The African Development Bank (AfDB) and Algeria’s Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Startups, and Micro-Enterprises have reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating the growth of startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the continent.
The announcement came at the close of the fourth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025), held in Algiers from 4–10 September.
Ousmane Fall, Acting Director of the AfDB’s Industrial and Trade Development Department, emphasized the Bank’s role in mobilizing capital for African businesses:
Supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and startups is one of the key pillars of our work, as defined in the Four Cardinal Points of the Bank Group’s new President, Dr. Sidi Ould Tah. The Bank will support SMEs through an innovative approach that combines new financing instruments, advisory services, and policy reforms to promote their emergence across the continent.”
Expanding Private Sector Partnerships
Ahead of discussions with Minister Noureddine Ouadah, the AfDB delegation met with Algeria Venture, the public startup accelerator. Both parties agreed to strengthen collaboration by:
- Linking Algerian startup support funds with African entrepreneurs.
- Partnering with leading private equity and venture capital funds.
- Co-hosting the upcoming African Startup Conference, scheduled for 6–9 December 2025 in Algiers, which will serve as a pan-African platform for innovation, networking, and investment.
During IATF 2025, Minister Ouadah also announced the launch of a new investment fund dedicated to African startups, an initiative backed by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. This highlights Algeria’s commitment to placing youth, entrepreneurship, and innovation at the center of Africa’s economic future.
AfDB Showcases Financing and Innovation Solutions
The Bank’s Non-Sovereign Operations team showcased private-sector financing solutions and explored strategic partnerships with high-impact African enterprises.
For example, discussions with Solewant Group, a Nigerian leader in steel and coatings, highlighted the AfDB’s focus on backing businesses that drive industrial growth and create jobs.
The Bank also promoted its Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab and flagship ENNOVA platform, which provide startups with the tools to scale operations, attract investment, and expand into new markets.
AfDB at the Heart of Africa’s Startup Ecosystem
At IATF 2025, the AfDB contributed to several key sessions, including:
- A UNDP Timbuktoo and African Union panel on building an enabling startup ecosystem.
- A session hosted by Afreximbank’s African Research and Innovation Centre.
These forums reinforced the Bank’s role in shaping policies and building structures that foster innovation and entrepreneurship.
As the IATF Advisory Council announced that Nigeria will host the fifth edition of the fair in Lagos in 2027, the AfDB reiterated its long-term commitment to making trade, innovation, and entrepreneurship central to inclusive growth and industrial transformation across Africa.
Conclusion
Through deeper collaboration with Algeria and other African stakeholders, the AfDB is scaling its efforts to support startups and SMEs, mobilize capital and expertise, and accelerate the continent’s digital and economic transformation.
