The Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC) has assumed the chairmanship of the Africa Roundtable of Financial Centres (ARFC), positioning Rwanda at the centre of efforts to strengthen collaboration among Africa’s financial hubs and improve the continent’s competitiveness in the global financial ecosystem.
KIFC officially began its tenure as Chair following a handover ceremony held today, taking over the role from EnterpriseNGR, Nigeria’s financial services development organisation.
Established in March 2024 under the umbrella of the World Alliance of International Financial Centres (WAIFC), ARFC was created as a platform to bring together African financial centres to promote cooperation, policy dialogue, knowledge exchange and collective action aimed at developing stronger and more connected financial markets across the continent.
The initiative was founded through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by four leading African financial centres: Rwanda Finance Limited, which represents Kigali International Financial Centre; Casablanca Finance City Authority of Morocco; the Economic Development Board of Mauritius; and EnterpriseNGR of Nigeria.
ARFC’s mandate is to enhance collaboration among African financial centres, encourage the exchange of expertise and best practices, support research, advocate for policies that improve financial market development, and promote Africa as an attractive destination for global investment.
Through the platform, member centres work together on issues including sustainable finance, financial innovation, fintech development, capital markets growth, investment facilitation and stronger links between African markets and international financial institutions.
As Chair, KIFC will work with ARFC members and WAIFC to deepen cooperation among financial centres, advance policy discussions, foster research and knowledge-sharing initiatives, and strengthen Africa’s voice in global financial conversations.
For Rwanda, the leadership role provides an opportunity to further promote Kigali as an emerging international financial hub and a gateway for investors looking to access opportunities across East and Central Africa.
The chairmanship also gives Rwanda a platform to influence discussions around Africa’s financial future while building stronger partnerships with established financial centres across the continent, including those in Mauritius, Morocco and Nigeria.
Rwanda has in recent years invested in developing Kigali International Financial Centre as a jurisdiction that attracts investment funds, financial institutions and businesses seeking a stable and business-friendly environment to operate from within Africa.
The ARFC chairmanship follows growing efforts by African financial centres to work collectively in attracting capital, improving financial connectivity and ensuring that the continent plays a stronger role in global financial markets.
While ARFC operates through a rotating leadership structure among member centres, the duration of each chairmanship term is determined through arrangements agreed by members.
EnterpriseNGR previously held the chair before handing over leadership to KIFC in 2026.
KIFC’s new role is expected to further elevate Rwanda’s participation in shaping Africa’s financial services agenda while supporting the continent’s ambition to build more integrated, competitive and globally connected financial markets.
