Meeting in Abidjan-Cocody on March 31, 2026, participants in the EU Regional Business Forum – West African Corridors placed the issue of financing at the heart of their discussions. During a "solutions workshop" dedicated to bankable infrastructure, one conclusion became clear: the investment gap in Africa does not stem from a lack of projects, but from a flawed risk assessment .

Actual risk vs. perceived risk

For Sionlé Yéo , CEO of AFG Holding Group, the gap between the reality on the ground and the analysis of international investors unnecessarily increases the cost of credit. According to him, this lack of understanding prevents many projects from reaching profitability.

"Perceived risk is different from actual risk," he insisted.

He advocates for increased collaboration with local banks , experts in national contexts, to better structure investments. He also reassured the assembly about the significant progress made in good governance and legal protection of investments on the continent, a point supported by Riccardo Rossi Van Lamsweerde (Cassa Depositi e Prestiti).

Europe facing the challenge of agility

For her part, Sonia Toro , Executive Director of the EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce (EUACC), pointed to the cumbersome administrative and historical processes of the old continent. She called on European donors to:

1. Verify the local expertise of intermediary banks before allocating them lines of credit.
2. Gaining agility , by drawing inspiration from more responsive models, such as those of India or China, which approach the African market without historical prejudices.

For Ms. Toro, this forum marks a "historic" turning point: it offers Europe

the opportunity to finally adapt to the realities on the ground and break with old patterns to become a more effective partner in the development of African infrastructure.