Chief Executive London Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Karim Fatehi OBE, Chief Executive of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TBC), is expected to share insights on strengthening UK–Africa business linkages, supporting SME growth, and fostering bilateral trade through chamber-to-chamber collaboration. His perspective will highlight the critical role of business networks in enabling market access and driving sustainable commercial partnerships between the UK and Africa.
The Rt Hon Virendra Sharma, Former MP
Virendra Sharma: A Lifetime of Public Service
Virendra Sharma is a respected figure in British politics, known for over 50 years of dedicated public service. His journey from a modest upbringing in Punjab, India, to becoming a five-term Member of Parliament in the UK exemplifies resilience, integrity, and commitment to community values.
Arriving in West London in 1968, Sharma began his career as a bus conductor before entering politics through community activism. In 1982, he was elected a councillor in Ealing, where he served in various leadership roles, including Mayor in 1994. His work focused on housing, race equality, and social justice.
In 2007, Sharma became the MP for Ealing Southall, a position he held until 2024. Known for his accessibility and advocacy, he served on key parliamentary committees and worked extensively through All-Party Parliamentary Groups to promote health, human rights, and India–UK relations. His unblemished career and principled stance during the 2009 expenses crisis earned him widespread respect.
Sharma’s work has been recognised with numerous awards, including the Bharat Gaurav and Hind Rattan Awards. Beyond politics, he continues to serve as a mentor and advocate for young people, diaspora identity, and inclusive leadership.
A devoted family man, Sharma attributes much of his success to the support of his wife, Nirmala, and their children and grandchildren. His legacy is one of public service rooted in equality, compassion, and a belief in a better society for all.
Businessman and Conservative Life Peer, House of Lords, UK
Lord Dolar Popat is a businessman, Conservative life peer in the House of Lords, and one of the UK’s most experienced parliamentary voices on UK–Africa trade and investment. Appointed to the House of Lords in 2010, he built a successful career in the hospitality and property sectors before entering public service.
Born in Uganda, Lord Popat brings a personal and strategic understanding of East Africa’s commercial landscape. As a former UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Uganda and Rwanda, with the Democratic Republic of Congo later added to his brief, he has played an important role in strengthening bilateral trade, supporting UK business engagement, and promoting investment-led partnerships across the region.
At the UK–Africa Investment Summit 2026, Lord Popat will share practical insights on deepening UK–Africa trade and investment relations, with a focus on enterprise, private sector growth, market access, and long-term commercial partnerships.
His perspective is especially relevant to discussions on the UK–Africa–India trilateral investment corridor, Uganda’s role as the 2026 Strategic Growth Partner, and the Summit’s focus on moving from access to production, from dialogue to execution, and from interest to bankable outcomes.
A strong advocate for enterprise, education, and stronger UK–Africa economic relations, Lord Popat continues to engage with business leaders, policymakers, investors, and institutions committed to expanding commercially credible partnerships between the UK and African markets.
His contribution to UKAIS 2026 will add depth to conversations on investment diplomacy, private capital mobilisation, regional trade corridors, and the practical conditions required to turn trade ambition into structured investment, industrial partnerships, and deal execution.
Assistant Secretary General, The Commonwealth
Prof. Luis Franceschi
Assistant Secretary-General, Governance and Peace Directorate
The Commonwealth Secretariat
At the 15th UK–Africa Business, Trade & Investment Summit, Prof. Luis Franceschi will contribute to the high-level dialogue on governance, institutional trust, and regional stability as enablers of sustainable investment.
Drawing from his leadership at the Commonwealth Secretariat and deep expertise in democratic governance, Prof. Franceschi will explore how transparent institutions, rule of law, and peacebuilding frameworks are essential to unlocking long-term investment and economic partnerships across Africa. His insights will highlight the role of good governance in de-risking investment environments, ensuring social cohesion, and advancing inclusive growth in line with the ATMS pillars (Agriculture, Tourism, Manufacturing, and Science & Technology).
Prof. Franceschi’s intervention will underscore the importance of aligning public policy with investor confidence, and the Commonwealth’s role in supporting member states to build resilient, just, and peaceful societies.
A Deep Dive into Financing Africa’s Green & Infrastructure Transformation
London, UK – 15 August 2025 — The organisers of the 15th UK–Africa Business, Trade & Investment Summit are pleased to announce that Admassu Tadesse, Co‑Chairperson and Group President of the Trade and Development Bank (TDB) Group, will deliver the Flagship Keynote at this year’s most anticipated plenary session:
Infrastructure & Powering a Sustainable Future: Mobilising Capital for Africa’s Energy, Minerals, Industrial Growth, and Green Transition
📍 Venue: Royal Horseguards Hotel & One Whitehall Place, London
🗓 Date: Friday, 12 September 2025
🌐 Register: ukafricabusinesssummit.uk
Mr. Tadesse leads TDB Group, one of Africa’s top-rated regional development finance institutions, with over USD 10 billion in assets and 21% growth reported in 2023. Under his leadership, TDB has become a key force in financing trade, infrastructure, climate solutions, and industrialisation across the continent—with non-performing loans under 4% and USD 230 million in annual profit.
TDB Group’s architecture now includes several purpose-built subsidiaries:
1. ASCENT Program – Clean Energy Access
Launched in June 2025 with the World Bank, ASCENT is a regional financing platform targeting 3 million people with renewable energy and clean cooking solutions—blending debt, grants, and SME finance.
2. UK–TDB Partnership on Trade Finance & Food Security
In March 2024, British International Investment (BII) committed USD 100 million to bolster trade finance and food security initiatives through TDB—showcasing tangible UK-Africa alignment.
3. SME & Women-led Agribusiness Finance
Through TDF, TDB has financed agribusinesses supporting over 16,000 farmers across East Africa, with an emphasis on inclusive growth.
4. Global Risk-Sharing & Funding Partners
✔ Scalable Climate-Aligned Capital Access
Platforms like ASCENT and the AFD partnership give UK investors a gateway to Africa’s climate infrastructure markets.
✔ Built-in Risk Mitigation
TDB’s financial architecture includes blended finance tools and de-risking mechanisms ideal for DFIs and institutional capital.
✔ Deep Developmental Reach
From clean energy and trade logistics to SMEs and agri-finance, TDB’s pipeline spans priority sectors for global sustainability goals.
✔ Strategic Market Entry
UK stakeholders can co-invest in high-growth, cross-border projects with trusted governance and regional impact.
Mr. Tadesse will outline:
His insights will serve investors, DFIs, infrastructure advisors, agri-tech innovators, and policymakers looking to scale meaningful, high-impact collaboration.
Admassu Tadesse’s keynote will be a defining moment at the UK–Africa Business Summit 2025—bringing forward a compelling, actionable vision for financing Africa’s next phase of economic transformation.
Reserve your seat now to engage with the leaders shaping Africa’s sustainable growth agenda.
📍 Venue: Royal Horseguards Hotel, London
🗓 Date: Friday, 12 September 2025
🌐 Register: ukafricabusinesssummit.uk
