The African Union Sports Council (AUSC) and the Ministry of Sports of Rwanda have announced their partnership to co-host the Policymakers Roundtable at the second edition of the SportsBiz Africa Forum (SBA 2025), scheduled for 9th–10th September 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda.
Launched in 2024, the Forum has quickly become Africa’s flagship platform promoting sports as a driver of socio-economic development and investment opportunities across the continent.
Africa’s sports industry is currently valued between US$12 and US$15 billion and is projected to grow at an annual rate of 8%, potentially surpassing US$20 billion in the coming years. Despite this growth, the sector contributes just 0.5% to Africa’s GDP, far below the global average of 2%. A landmark survey by the African Sports and Creative Institute (ASCI), covering 3,000 sports business profeshttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lPBLKuZFRtfJ3oaxiFc6gLAFrwQggVTUsionals, highlighted challenges such as poor governance, weak infrastructure, limited human capital, and restricted access to finance as barriers to sector growth and investment.
The Policymakers Roundtable will bring together government ministers, private sector leaders, multilateral institutions, and civil society representatives to develop actionable strategies aligned with the AU Sports Policy Framework and Agenda 2063. Discussions will focus on unlocking investment, harmonizing fiscal incentives, strengthening governance structures, and building a unified roadmap for Africa’s sports ecosystem.
Expected outcomes include, Streamlined national and regional investment policies for sport, harmonized tax and fiscal incentives to encourage private investment and a roadmap for stronger data collection to support evidence-based policy and investment decisions.
Speaking on the initiative, Rwanda’s Minister of Sports, Nelly Mukazayire, said: “This Roundtable marks a pivotal step in unlocking the transformative potential of Africa’s sports industry. By strengthening our national policies and aligning them with Agenda 2063, we aim to foster a thriving sports ecosystem that drives job creation, sparks innovation, and accelerates socio-economic development across the continent. Together, we are setting the stage for a new era where sport becomes a powerful catalyst for Africa’s growth and global leadership.”
Dr. Decius Chipande, Head of the African Union Sports Council, added: “This partnership represents every country in Africa and reflects our commitment to turning challenges into opportunities. The Roundtable will complement the AU Sports Policy Framework by empowering investors and communities to ensure Africa’s sports sector reaches its full global potential.”
The African Union Sports Council (AUSC) is the AU’s coordinating body for sport and physical activity, mandated to promote and develop sport across member states, align policies with Agenda 2063, and foster unity through sport.
The SportsBiz Africa Forum has positioned itself as the annual Pan-African platform advancing investment, innovation, and policy in sports. In addition to the Policymakers Roundtable, the 2025 edition will also launch a new initiative, The Dealroom, designed to connect investors with curated, high-impact opportunities in Africa’s growing sports ecosystem.
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