The Middle East is in a great position to become a solar and wind powerhouse, with many countries setting ambitious targets for the sector. Here, we consider:

• What complex financial structures have been used to close large, long-term wind and solar deals?

• How is the market primed to manage supply chain disruptions? 

• How does the sector approach intermittency and energy storage gaps?

Despite a flurry of activity in the wake of the pandemic, deal volumes surrounding healthcare and education projects in Africa have slowed. This panel interrogates how we can boost activity in this critical sector:

• How do we prioritise healthcare for debt burdened governments? 

• What role do ECAs, DFIs, and commercial banks need to play on these transactions? What interesting projects are in the pipeline? 

• How can we facilitate local partnerships which are key to financing these deals?

Developers are chomping at the bit to push forward with emerging technologies like sustainable fuels, but cost and regulations are a constant barrier. This session considers the opportunities that can be unlocked provided that these hurdles can be overcome. 

• How can the market improve lender confidence in newer technologies? 
• How can developers and financiers manage the ‘green premium’ often added to sustainable fuel deals, and work towards securing long-term offtake agreements? 
• How can the market streamline permitting and cross-border agreements on sustainability standards to improve the regulatory environment surrounding sustainable fuels?
• How important are DFIs and ECAs to supporting e-fuel growth?

As governments feel their budgets tightening, private equity has a lot to offer on African projects. This session considers:

• What structures can private and public players collaborate on? How do we create scale in blended finance transactions?
• What makes a project attractive to private investors? How can we overcome FX currency risk that can deter investors? 
• How public institutions can collaborate with the private market to bring more deals to the table
• How do we encourage market integration to create larger, more investable instruments  that appeal to global capital pools?

With elections fast approaching, Iraq has opened the doors to large ticket export financing. Given the high financing and premium costs in the country, lots can be learned from companies who have already closed business in Iraq. This session considers:

• How can we address outdated risk perceptions of Iraq to boost investor confidence? 

• How do we boost correspondent banking relationships between international and local counterparts?

• How do we transform billions of dollars worth of opportunity into reality?

Agriculture plays a vital part in Africa’s economy, but does the sector get the financial support it needs? This session considers agriculture holistically, focusing on how to capture the value of natural resources within the continent .

• How can the market finance logistics and infrastructure to better support Africa’s agribusiness sector? 
• How do we mitigate lender and ECA risk aversion to the sector? 
• What role does blended finance have to play in the agriculture space?

With an estimated $1.1 trillion worth of projects in the works, the scale of opportunity in Saudi Arabia is staggering. This session provides a deep dive into this land of plenty: 

• What project opportunities should financiers keep an eye on as KSA strives to diversify its economy away from oil and gas? 

• How will the export finance community contribute to Saudi’s energy transformation? Who is working on active projects, and where is development still needed?

• Will the drop in oil prices put any Vision 2030 projects in jeopardy?

As population level grows, so does demand for energy. Whilst the picture may be more complex in emerging markets, there is significant opportunity for development in the African renewables space. This session considers:

• How do market leaders balance sustainability, reliability, and affordability for African renewables projects?

• What role do balancing power plants have on supporting green energy in Africa? How should the grid cope with intermittency? 

• Are PPPs the answer?

• How can we balance power plants, grid modernisation, and storage solutions to target intermittency?

The Middle East is a hub for large scale infrastructure developers, with developers and borrowers on the export finance market securing large CapEx deals backed by good credit. This panel examines large scale infra in the region:

• With large amounts of liquidity on the market, what role do ECAs have to play in a well financed space?
• What innovative structures have been used on large scale projects?  
• How are borrowers managing increased risk?

Countries like Angola, Cote D’Ivoire, and Ghana have led the way on water and sanitation projects, using a combination of ECAs, DFIs, and other innovative solutions. 

• What blended finance structures have supported recent transactions in the sector?

• How can local currency tranches be mobilised into water deals? 

• How can we overcome regulatory hurdles?

Although a quiet market since the pandemic, aviation is returning to the ECA world, with multiple RFPs on the market. This session asks: 

• Which airlines are looking to borrow on the ECA market? 

• Why is ECA financing attractive for the aviation market, and how can we attract more business? 

• What ECA backed aviation deals are on the horizon for 2026 and beyond?

With their in-depth market understanding and nimble products, local institutions make all the difference on African transactions. This session considers:

● What role do local banks have in financing African infrastructure projects?

● Why is it so important to have a local partner on African transactions?

● How can local banks collaborate with international ECAs, DFIs, and financial institutions?