The first day of the 13th Building African Financial Markets (BAFM) Forum 2026, hosted in Dar es Salaam by the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE) under the African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA), focused on accelerating African capital market integration and financial innovation.

Key highlights included the launch of Phase II of the African Exchange Linkage Project (AELP), expanding cross-border trading among African stock exchanges including Botswana, Ghana, Eswatini, and Uganda, and strengthening regional investment connectivity.

The forum emphasized the importance of youth participation in financial markets, noting that around 60% of Africa’s population is under 25, representing a major emerging investor base supported by mobile technology and digital platforms.

Discussions also covered the expansion of alternative finance, particularly Sukuk (Islamic bonds), with Tanzania having raised approximately USD 260 million through such instruments since policy reforms in 2021.

Participants highlighted the growing role of Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) in attracting global institutional capital and improving liquidity across African markets.Tanzania’s macroeconomic performance was also noted, including mining revenues reaching TZS 1.39 trillion in 2025/26, exceeding targets by 16%, and state-owned enterprises increasing dividends by 30% to TZS 1.327 trillion.

The forum further addressed regulatory harmonization challenges, digital transformation, and the need for deeper regional cooperation to unlock Africa’s full capital market potential.

Overall, the event underscored Africa’s opportunity to leverage technology, demographic growth, and financial reforms to build a more integrated and competitive investment landscape by 2030.