The very first summit bringing together Gulf and African countries, titled the “Gulf-Africa Strategic Partnership Initiative” (GASPI), will take place from December 8 to 10 in Abidjan, the economic capital of Côte d’Ivoire.
Scheduled to be held every two years on a rotating basis between the Gulf and Africa, the summit aims to strengthen diplomatic and economic relations between the two regions, according to the organizers.
This inaugural edition seeks to sustainably consolidate the partnership between the two regions and promote the emergence of a strategic Africa–Gulf corridor, at a time marked by shifting global strategic and economic balances.
The summit is expected to bring together heads of state and government from around thirty African and Gulf countries, as well as representatives from international financial institutions and the private sector. The event aims to revitalize economic partnerships and accelerate Gulf investments in key sectors in Africa, including energy, transport and logistics, agriculture and agro-industry, mining, and telecommunications.
For context, trade between Africa and Gulf countries more than doubled between 2016 and 2023, rising from $57.7 billion to $121 billion, according to the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).
In addition, direct investments from the six Gulf oil monarchies in Africa have exceeded $100 billion over the past decade. Today, the United Arab Emirates ranks as Africa’s fourth-largest economic partner, behind China, the European Union, and the United States.
