The Head of Mission of the Pan-African AU Agenda 2063 Diplomatic Mission, Amb. Dr. Engr. Kingsley Okwara, has returned to Abuja, Nigeria, following a successful participation at the prestigious United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Forum 2026 held in Barcelona, Spain.
The high-level international forum brought together global policymakers, diplomats, development finance institutions, infrastructure experts, investors, and multilateral organizations to deliberate on innovative strategies for sustainable infrastructure financing and resilient economic development through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
The conference, themed “Public-Private Partnerships for Sustainable and Resilient Futures,” focused on strengthening international cooperation in areas such as green infrastructure, climate finance, smart cities, transport connectivity, renewable energy, healthcare infrastructure, digital transformation, and sustainable economic growth.
The Forum was organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the UNECE International PPP Centre of Excellence, in collaboration with the Government of Spain, Barcelona city authorities, and several international development institutions.
Among the key organizers and coordinators of the event were Mr. Tony Bonnici, Chief, Cooperation and Partnerships Section, Economic Cooperation and Trade Division, UNECE. Mrs. Natalia Ryazanova, who coordinated administrative and logistics operations for the Forum.
The event featured distinguished personalities and senior global officials, including Ms. Tatiana Molcean, Executive Secretary of UNECE, alongside representatives of the United Nations system, the European Union, World Bank Group, African Development Bank (AfDB), European Investment Bank (EIB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
During the Forum, Engr. Kingsley Okwara actively engaged in strategic discussions and bilateral consultations focusing on Africa’s infrastructure development, sustainable financing, youth empowerment, climate-resilient infrastructure, and continental integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and AU Agenda 2063.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Forum, Amb. Okwara emphasized the need for stronger global partnerships to accelerate Africa’s transformation.
“Africa must continue positioning itself as a strategic global partner through sustainable infrastructure investments, regional integration, innovation, and inclusive development policies. Public-Private Partnerships remain critical to achieving the aspirations of Agenda 2063,” he stated.
Following the conclusion of the UNECE PPP Forum in Barcelona, Amb. Dr. Engr. Kingsley Okwara proceeded to Munich, Germany, and Paris, France, where he held strategic meetings with potential investors, development partners, and business stakeholders to present and promote viable investment opportunities available through the Pan-African AU Agenda 2063 Diplomatic Mission for the development of Africa.
The engagements focused on attracting international partnerships and investments into critical sectors including infrastructure, renewable energy, industrialization, technology, agriculture, transportation, youth empowerment, and sustainable development initiatives across the African continent.
The conference highlighted Africa as one of the world’s fastest-growing investment frontiers, with enormous opportunities in infrastructure, renewable energy, transportation, digital technology, and regional trade integration.
Participants at the Forum also stressed the importance of innovative financing mechanisms such as blended finance, green bonds, climate financing, impact investments, and sovereign-private partnerships to address infrastructure deficits in emerging economies.
The Pan-African AU Agenda 2063 Diplomatic Mission described the participation as highly productive and strategic, noting that valuable exchanges of ideas and partnership discussions were held with international stakeholders and development institutions.
The Mission reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Africa’s development priorities through diplomacy, strategic cooperation, and international engagement aimed at promoting sustainable growth, peace, integration, and economic transformation across the continent.
