Africa's development trajectory is increasingly shaped not only by national governments and continental institutions but also by the dynamism of sub-sovereign or sub-national actors. States, provinces, regions, and cities are emerging as powerful engines of investment, industrialisation, development, and intra-African trade. In just six short years, the African Sub‑Sovereign Governments Network (AfSNET) has become the "continent's premier platform dedicated to unlocking the economic potential of Africa's sub-sovereign governments, strengthening their role in advancing trade, investment and sustainable economic development."
The upcoming 6th AfSNET Investment Conference, taking place 12-14 November 2026 at the Calabar International Convention Centre in Cross River State, Nigeria, marks a pivotal moment.
Set to take place one year before the Intra‑African Trade Fair (IATF) 2027, scheduled for Lagos, Nigeria, AfSNET 2026 serves as a strategic precursor. It will shape the investment pipelines, partnerships, and sub‑national projects to be showcased at Africa's largest trade and investment marketplace. The IATF2025 welcomed "112,000 visitors - both physical and virtual - from 132 countries as well as 958 buyers and 2,148 exhibitors who showcased a vast array of goods, services and investment opportunities with a record US$48.3 billion in trade and investment deals signed" in Algiers last year.
This year's theme, "The Role of Sub-Sovereigns in Catalysing Development through Trade and Investment", underscores a continental imperative. As the AfSNET organisers note on the website, over three days, "the Conference will focus on how states, provinces, regions and other sub-sovereign governments can mobilise investment, accelerate industrialisation, deliver bankable infrastructure projects, build stronger regional value chains and catalyse development ambitions through Trade and Investment."
Originally published by African Business.