Germany and Africa: The SAFRI Initiative as a Strategic Bridge
An economic dialogue between German industry and Sub-Saharan Africa
June 26th, 2025
For over two decades, the Sub-Saharan-Afrika Initiative der Deutschen Wirtschaft (SAFRI) has been one of Germany’s most important efforts to strengthen economic ties with Sub-Saharan African countries. Founded in 1998 as a continuation of an earlier initiative focused on Southern Africa, SAFRI has evolved into a key platform for fostering economic dialogue between the two regions.
Backed by major German business associations such as the DIHK, BDI, BGA, and the Afrika-Verein, the initiative seeks not only to promote trade and investment, but also to build a more balanced, sustainable form of cooperation. SAFRI’s mission includes positioning Africa as a “continent of opportunities” for German industry, while facilitating connections between companies, governments, and institutions on both sides.
One of SAFRI’s flagship events is the German-African Business Summit (GABS), which has brought together hundreds of business leaders, policymakers, and civil society representatives since its first edition in 2015. The most recent summit, held in Berlin in November 2023, coincided with the G20 Compact with Africa conference, gathering 18 African heads of state and over 1,000 high-level participants. During the event, several African leaders reiterated their call for stronger German engagement across the continent.
In response, the German government pledged a significant investment through the Africa-EU Green Energy Initiative, committing up to €4 billion to support projects in green hydrogen, infrastructure, and digital connectivity. These announcements reflect Germany’s strategic interest in deepening its economic presence in Africa at a time when the continent is gaining global relevance in both geopolitical and environmental terms.
Since October 2023, SAFRI has been chaired by Thomas Schäfer, a member of the Volkswagen board and current CEO of the brand, a clear signal of the growing involvement of major German companies in the initiative. Operational coordination remains with the DIHK, working closely with the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs), which provide local market insights and hands-on support to German SMEs looking to expand into African markets.
While progress is evident, with a growing number of companies reporting positive experiences in Africa, challenges remain. These include access to financing, local regulatory frameworks, and macroeconomic uncertainty. Nevertheless, SAFRI continues to promote cooperation based on mutual trust, responsible investment, and shared value creation. In an increasingly interconnected world, SAFRI stands as a symbol of a renewed economic alliance between Germany and Africa, one that moves beyond outdated narratives and focuses on joint solutions for the challenges of today.
