AfDB unveils Africa-Asia Platform for youth entrepreneurship and innovation
On Friday, the African Development Bank (AfDB) unveiled the Africa-Asia Platform, a groundbreaking initiative designed to foster two-way flows of expertise, technology, and innovative solutions between Africa and Asia. Far from a one-sided transfer, the new platform is built on genuine reciprocity—enabling African institutions to share their own successes while tapping into Asia’s proven models of rapid industrialisation, digital transformation, and sustainable development.
The official launch took place at the United Nations University in Tokyo, in a ceremony co-hosted by the AfDB and supported by the University of Pretoria and the University of Tokyo. Among the dignitaries present were AfDB President Dr Sidi Ould Tah, University of Pretoria Vice-Chancellor Prof. Francis Petersen, and University of Tokyo President Dr Teruo Fujii.
Funded through Japan’s Policy and Human Resource Development Grant (PHRDG) managed within the AfDB, the platform will focus on three core pillars: creating a formal Africa-Asia knowledge partnership, facilitating public- and private-sector dialogues that spark actionable initiatives, and strengthening research capabilities through expanded inter-university collaboration and academic networking.
This milestone builds directly on commitments made at the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama in August 2025, where leaders embraced the theme “Co-create innovative solutions with Africa.” The A-A Platform is a concrete step toward turning that vision into reality.
Speaking at the event, Dr Sidi Ould Tah described the launch as “the next frontier of Africa-Asia collaboration,” adding that its success will demonstrate the immense potential of innovative, youth-centred partnerships. He emphasised that by empowering young Africans as entrepreneurs and innovators—backed by strong public-private alliances—the continent can build attractive investment destinations, generate quality jobs, and tackle challenges such as irregular migration and insecurity at their root.
Prof. Francis Petersen highlighted the unique bridging role of universities, noting that despite geographical and institutional distances, higher education institutions are ideally placed to connect talent, generate interdisciplinary knowledge, and convene diverse stakeholders across continents.
Dr Teruo Fujii underscored the platform’s role in linking researchers, policymakers, and business leaders, creating fresh opportunities for joint policy research, cross-continental student exchanges, and new commercial ventures.
The Africa-Asia Platform complements existing AfDB innovation programmes, including Phase 2 of the Pan African University and the AI-driven ENNOVA entrepreneurship ecosystem, which offers market intelligence, training, funding connections, and incubation support to African innovators.
In a joint declaration, the three lead organisations—the African Development Bank Group, the University of Pretoria, and the Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Tokyo—pledged full cooperation with each other and with wider stakeholders to advance skills development, youth entrepreneurship, and sustainable progress across Africa. Download the full joint statement and details here: https://apo-opa.co/4i1AgzQ
With this launch, Africa and Asia are writing a new chapter of partnership—one rooted in mutual learning, shared ambition, and the belief that the innovations needed for tomorrow’s prosperity will emerge when the brightest minds of both continents work side by side.
