KIFC assumes leadership of the Africa Roundtable of Financial Centres, championing a more connected, competitive and globally positioned Africa

The Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC) has officially assumed the role of Chair of the Africa Roundtable of Financial Centres (ARFC), marking a new chapter in strengthening collaboration among Africa’s leading international financial centres. The handover from EnterpriseNGR was formalized in the presence of the World Alliance of International Financial Centres (WAIFC) leadership during an ARFC meeting held on 28 July 2026 at KIFC.

This role places Rwanda at the helm of a continental platform dedicated to strengthening cooperation among Africa’s financial centres and enhancing the continent’s competitiveness in the global financial landscape. During its tenure, EnterpriseNGR established a multi-year strategy centred on connecting African financial centres for global competitiveness, with a focus on collaboration, policy dialogue, knowledge sharing and institutional growth.

“We started our chairmanship by articulating a multi-year strategy or direction for ARFC, which we titled ‘Connecting African Financial Centres for Global Competitiveness.’ that clarity and direction helped us a lot in defining activities for the year.” Obi Ibekwe, CEO, EnterpriseNGR and Outgoing Chair of ARFC.

Building on this foundation, KIFC will lead the Roundtable under the theme “The Future of African Financial Centres: Pathways to Global Competitiveness.” The theme reflects a shared ambition to strengthen Africa’s collective competitiveness through deeper collaboration, stronger partnerships, and greater visibility on the global stage.

ARFC members during a meeting on 28 July 2026

Priority initiatives during KIFC’s tenure include joint thought leadership, stronger collaboration among African financial centres, advancing flagship projects such as license passporting and regulatory dialogue, expanding ARFC’s membership, and enhancing the Roundtable’s visibility through coordinated communications and knowledge sharing.

“The strategic objectives remain the same, strengthening intra-African collaboration, enhancing our global positioning, and encouraging more members to join. Our role is to build on the work already done, bring greater visibility to the Roundtable and its members, and strengthen Africa’s collective voice in global finance.” Hortense Mudenge, Chief Executive Officer, Kigali International Financial Centre

For Rwanda, assuming the Chair of ARFC reflects the country’s growing role as a trusted financial centre and a convenor of pan-African collaboration. It provides KIFC with a unique platform to strengthen partnerships across the continent, shape the future of Africa’s financial ecosystem, and position Africa as an increasingly attractive destination for global investment.

The Africa Roundtable of Financial Centres acts as the regional platform of WAIFC in Africa, strengthening collaboration among African financial centres.

WAIFC is the leading global platform of international financial centers, acting as a catalyst for bilateral, regional, and global collaboration, fostering financial innovation, and cooperating with major international organizations.

The alliance was founded in 2018 in Paris by financial centres from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas. Since its establishment, WAIFC has grown into a global network spanning multiple continents, bringing together established and emerging financial centres.

The Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC), joined WAIFC in 2022, becoming part of this global network of international financial centres. Later that year, KIFC hosted a WAIFC Board Meeting in Kigali, the first to be held in Rwanda, demonstrating the country’s growing role in international finance and reinforcing its ambition to position Rwanda as a preferred gateway for investment into Africa.

As WAIFC’s membership in Africa continued to grow, the Alliance supported the establishment of the Africa Roundtable of International Financial Centres (ARFC) in 2024. Created by WAIFC’s African members, the Roundtable serves as the Alliance’s regional platform for Africa, enabling financial centres across the continent to collaborate more closely, advance common priorities, and strengthen Africa’s collective voice within the global financial ecosystem.