ATIDI Marks 25 Years with Record Growth, Strong Backing for Africa’s Financial Future

The African Trade & Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI)  marked its Silver Jubilee with record financial performance and renewed political backing as African leaders endorsed the institution as a cornerstone of a new African-led financial architecture aimed at unlocking investment, lowering the cost of capital, and mobilising domestic resources for the continent’s development.

The endorsement came during ATIDI’s 26th Annual General Meeting (AGM), held in Nairobi from June 30 to July 3 under the theme “Empowering Africa: Risk Managed, Growth Unlocked.”

Speaking at the Silver Jubilee Gala Dinner at State House, President William Ruto urged African countries to strengthen homegrown financial institutions capable of financing the continent’s development on its own terms.

“For years, we have called for a fairer global financial architecture that stops mispricing African risk and making our capital needlessly expensive. While the world debates reform, Africa must build.”

– William Ruto, President, Government of Kenya

The President endorsed the New African Financial Architecture for Development (NAFAD), launched earlier this year by African Development Bank Group President Dr. Sidi Ould Tah to strengthen Africa’s financial sovereignty by leveraging the continent’s multilateral financial institutions.

Although Africa holds nearly US$4 trillion in long-term domestic savings through pension funds, insurance assets and central bank reserves, much of this capital continues to be invested outside the continent despite Africa facing an annual financing gap exceeding US$400 billion.

President Ruto announced several measures to strengthen Africa’s risk-sharing architecture, including Kenya’s support for the Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AAMFI) and approval for the Alliance’s Secretariat to be hosted in Nairobi.

He also called for ATIDI’s recapitalisation to US$2 billion, noting that every dollar invested in Africa’s guarantee architecture has the potential to mobilise ten dollars in private investment. Kenya will progressively increase its shareholding in ATIDI from US$25 million to US$65 million, subject to the necessary national approvals, and presented the institution with the title deed for land designated for its permanent headquarters.

Kenya remains one of ATIDI’s largest markets, with the institution’s guarantees and insurance solutions facilitating more than US$7 billion in investments across energy, transport, agriculture, manufacturing and trade.

Opening the AGM, ATIDI Chief Executive Officer Manuel Moses reflected on the institution’s 25-year journey, describing it as proof that African institutions can successfully deliver African solutions to African challenges.

“Over the past twenty-five years, ATIDI has demonstrated that African solutions are often best placed to address Africa’s unique challenges and opportunities.”

– Manuel Moses, Chief Executive Officer, African Trade & Investment Development Insurance

Since its establishment in 2001, ATIDI has supported more than US$93 billion in trade and investment across Africa through political risk insurance, credit insurance and surety products that help reduce investment risk and improve access to finance.

The institution has grown from seven founding member states to 24 African member countries, 13 institutional shareholders and one non-African member state, while consistently maintaining investment-grade ratings from leading international credit rating agencies.

Moses said ATIDI’s success has been built on combining international standards with a deep understanding of African markets, enabling the institution to design solutions that meet investor expectations while responding to local realities. He also underscored the importance of preserving ATIDI’s Preferred Creditor Status, describing it as fundamental to maintaining investor confidence and safeguarding the institution’s financial strength.

ATIDI also reported another year of strong financial performance despite continued global economic uncertainty.

Total exposure increased from US$8.9 billion in 2024 to US$9.2 billion in 2025, while profit for the year rose by 20 percent to US$71.4 million. Total assets grew by 20 percent to US$1.06 billion, with shareholders’ equity increasing by 12 percent to US$883 million.

“Against a backdrop of continued global uncertainty, ATIDI delivered another year of resilient growth, supported by strong insurance revenue, investment income and a strengthened balance sheet.”

– Manuel Moses, Chief Executive Officer, African Trade & Investment Development Insurance

ATIDI Board Chairman Professor Kelly Mua Kingsly said confidence remains Africa’s greatest economic asset.

“If capital is the engine of development, confidence is its fuel. We do not merely mitigate risk—we create confidence.”

– Kelly Mua Kingsly, Board Chairman, African Trade & Investment Development Insurance

The AGM’s Leaders’ Panel also underscored the growing role of African multilateral financial institutions in supporting development and attracting private investment.

African Development Bank Group President Dr. Sidi Ould Tah announced that the Bank had increased its participation in ATIDI’s capital five-fold, making it the institution’s largest institutional shareholder. The Bank will also support additional African countries seeking to join ATIDI by helping mobilise resources for their capital subscriptions.

“The challenge before us is not a lack of capital or opportunities, but the persistent mispricing of African risk, which continues to drive up the cost of capital across the continent.”

– Sidi Ould Tah, President, African Development Bank Group

He added that ATIDI plays an indispensable role within the New African Financial Architecture for Development by helping unlock investment, strengthen financial sovereignty and mobilise both domestic and international capital.

Kenya’s Deputy President Professor Kithure Kindiki also called for greater private sector participation in financing Africa’s development, noting that fiscal constraints facing many governments make private investment increasingly essential.

The AGM concluded with an investment promotion forum showcasing opportunities in Kenya and Cameroon across renewable energy, transport, water and agriculture, alongside business-to-business and business-to-government meetings connecting investors with project sponsors and policymakers.

As ATIDI enters its next quarter century, the institution is positioning itself at the heart of Africa’s evolving financial architecture, using innovative risk mitigation solutions to mobilise private capital, strengthen investor confidence and accelerate sustainable economic transformation across the continent.