Equity Group CEO, Dr. James Mwangi at the Africa CEO Forum. Photo/courtesy.
Equity Group Managing Director and CEO James Mwangi has called for stronger collaboration between governments, financial institutions and technology firms to support Africa’s digital economy and boost intra-African trade.
Speaking during a Tech Breakfast hosted by Equity Group on the sidelines of the ongoing Africa CEO Forum 2026 in Kigali, Mwangi said Africa’s future growth would depend on how effectively the continent integrates technology and finance to create opportunities for businesses and young entrepreneurs.
“We need an intersection of technology and money. We want to enable trade across the continent and create platforms that empower businesses and entrepreneurs to scale,” Dr. Mwangi said.
The meeting, themed “From Fintech to Futuretech: Scaling Africa’s Digital Economy,” brought together leaders from government, finance and technology sectors to discuss digital transformation and the infrastructure needed to support economic growth.
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Mwangi said investment in innovation and digital systems would be critical in expanding financial inclusion and supporting enterprise growth across Africa.
“We want the youth to leverage technology to develop their enterprises and participate meaningfully in the digital economy,” he said.
He added that Africa’s transformation would require institutions to work together in developing shared systems and infrastructure.
“The Africa CEO Forum has been about scaling, and this is an invitation for all of us to scale together, partnering to build public infrastructure that serves the entire continent,” he added.
Participants at the forum also discussed the role of technologies such as blockchain, digital assets and decentralized systems in improving efficiency, transparency and access to financial services across African markets.
Rwanda’s ICT and Innovation Minister Paula Ingabire said African countries should take a leading role in shaping their digital transformation agendas and building systems that benefit local economies.
She pointed to the importance of digital infrastructure including cross-border banking systems, digital identity and data governance frameworks, noting that data is becoming an increasingly valuable economic resource.
“We need to start setting the pace on how technology empowers us and builds value for our people,” she said.
“Every generation of technology has promised inclusion. We now need to embrace these technologies intentionally and work together to build systems that truly expand opportunity,” she added. “The rails are ours to build and the rules are ours to create.”
The forum comes as African governments and businesses continue pushing for deeper regional integration and stronger digital connectivity to support trade, innovation and economic inclusion.
