Speaking at the summit, President Kagame recalled that “more than a decade ago, the Transform Africa Summit was launched in Kigali”, at a time when the world was entering a digital revolution. He emphasized that the vision then to invest in broadband and use connectivity as a foundation for competitive growth remains as relevant today as it was at the beginning.

He noted that, while Africa has made steady progress with the support of partners, today’s world presents new complexities, as technological evolution accelerates and global interconnections deepen.

Focusing on the summit’s theme, Artificial Intelligence, President Kagame highlighted the importance of aligning AI deployment with Africa’s specific development needs.

“For Africa, success will not only depend on how quickly we deploy this new tool, but also on which problems we choose to apply it to,” he said. “Those tailored to our context and development needs will bring the maximum gains to our human capital.”

President Kagame also revealed that in Rwanda, artificial intelligence is projected to contribute about 5% to the country’s GDP, driving innovation in critical sectors such as healthcare, education, and agriculture.

The 2025 Transform Africa Summit brings together African leaders, technology experts, investors, and innovators to discuss strategies for leveraging digital transformation in driving sustainable development.

While in Guinea President Kagame joined President Doumbouya and other leaders for the launch of the Simandou Iron Ore Project, the world’s largest known untapped iron ore reserve. 

The project includes a 600-kilometre railway designed to serve both mining and non-mining activities  a major infrastructure investment expected to boost regional trade, connectivity, and economic integration across West Africa.