About Converge '25

Global demand for commodities continues to rise, driven by population growth, energy transitions, and the increasing need for raw materials in manufacturing and technology. For Africa — a continent endowed with over 30% of the world’s mineral reserves (based on the UNEP’s estimates), 8% of global oil production, and about 60% of the world's arable uncultivated land (according to the African Development Bank) — this presents a significant opportunity to harness commodity trade as a lever for industrialization, infrastructure development and economic transformation.

Yet, despite this potential, Africa remains heavily dependent on the export of unprocessed raw materials. According to the African Development Bank, commodities account for over 80% of Africa’s total merchandise exports, but much of this trade is in low-value primary products. This over reliance exposes economies to global price volatility and limits the continent’s ability to capture higher value along commodity value chains. Moreover, the infrastructure and financ- ing gaps continue to constrain intra-African trade and limit access to global markets. In this context, #CNVERGE '25 will convene leaders and stakeholders from the banking, trade finance, commodity trading, and policy making sectors to reimagine the future of Africa’s commodity trade. The conference will assess emerging trends and prospects, examine structural and regulatory risks, and explore innovative solutions to enhance local value addition, improve access to trade finance, and build a mor