The 8th edition of the EurAfrican Forum, held in 2025 at Nova SBE in Cascais, brought together global leaders and innovators to strengthen Europe-Africa cooperation, focusing on sustainable growth, innovation, and long-term development partnerships.

On July 25 and 26, the Nova School of Business and Economics in Cascais hosted the eighth edition of the EurAfrican Forum, under the theme “Transforming Tomorrow: Bridging Global Partnerships to Meet the 2063 Agenda.”

Organized by the Portuguese Diaspora Council, the EurAfrican Forum is an action-oriented platform that aims to strengthen collaboration between Europe and Africa. The event promotes green and inclusive growth, identifies innovative business and social impact investment opportunities, and fosters synergies between the innovation ecosystems of both continents.

The 2025 EurAfrican Forum, held at Nova SBE in Cascais, brought together global leaders and innovators to strengthen Europe–Africa cooperation, focusing on sustainable growth, innovation, and long-term development partnerships.

The 2025 edition brought together the “Euro-African Community Network,” composed of pioneers, thought leaders, and innovators shaping contemporary Africa. The Forum stood out for its focus on creating practical solutions and sharing experiences, with the goal of discussing strategies for cooperation, sustainable innovation, and joint economic development.

The event opened with remarks from José Manuel Durão Barroso, Chairman of the EurAfrican Forum, accompanied by Paulo Rangel, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vice-President of the Diaspora Council. António Calçada de Sá, President of the Portuguese Diaspora Council, emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation between Europe and Africa through concrete and lasting initiatives.

Over two days, the Forum explored critical areas essential to achieving long-term development, inclusive growth, and geopolitical balance between Africa and Europe. These included: trade and investment, policies for progress, financial institutions, startup ecosystems, energy security, global markets, infrastructure resilience, technology, and geopolitics.

The Trade and Investment panel highlighted the importance of European investment in Africa, the simplification of trade barriers, and the role of technology, such as blockchain and artificial intelligence, in creating sustainable partnerships and driving the continent’s economic growth.

In Policies for Progress, discussions focused on promoting gender equality, strengthening quality education (especially in STEM fields), and improving access to healthcare, with the aim of building more inclusive and resilient societies.

The Financial Institutions panel addressed European, African, and international financing mechanisms for infrastructure, SMEs, and startups, underscoring the need for strategic cooperation between continents to boost sustainable growth.

In Startup Ecosystems, participants discussed the rapid development of Africa’s tech sector and collaboration with European innovation hubs, highlighting investments, incubators, and the AfCFTA as key tools for strengthening startups and the digital economy.

The Energy Security panel emphasized the challenges of energy access in Africa, the need to attract private investment, and the implementation of a just energy transition, with opportunities for strategic cooperation with Europe.

In Global Markets, discussions centered on the role of international forums such as the Global Gateway in business expansion, access to financing, and the building of strategic partnerships in emerging markets.

The Infrastructure Resilience panel stressed the importance of developing infrastructure capable of withstanding climate change and geopolitical threats, promoting green solutions, safety, and Africa-Europe cooperation.

In Technology, the discussion focused on how tools such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, telemedicine, and ed-tech are being used to address challenges in agriculture, healthcare, and education, driving inclusive development. Finally, the Geopolitics panel analyzed political transformation in Africa, the rise of new forces, and the continent’s growing influence in global forums, highlighting opportunities for Europe to support strategic development and African integration.

The Forum featured speeches by prominent figures, including Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of Portugal; João Lourenço, President of Angola; business leaders from Africa and Europe; and representatives of international organizations, reinforcing the event’s global dimension.

The closing session featured a “Dialogue Between Presidents” with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and João Lourenço, underscoring Portugal’s strategic role as a bridge between Europe and Africa and reaffirming the commitment to long-term sustainable and innovative partnerships.

The eighth edition of the EurAfrican Forum has firmly established itself as an essential platform for knowledge exchange, strengthening diplomatic relations, and creating joint projects that promote prosperity, innovation, and sustainable growth across Africa and Europe.

For more information about the EurAfrican Forum, visit the event’s official website.