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Nairobi made history this week as it hosted the New Cities Summit 2025 for the first time, bringing together over 400 delegates from 50 countries to discuss the future of urban development across Africa.
The two-day event, held at the Emara Ole-Sereni Hotel on June 12 – 13, positioned Kenya’s capital as a key hub for continental conversations about sustainable city-building and economic transformation.
Among the key highlights of the summit was the Cities Catapult initiative, a joint program by the Charter Cities Institute and Africa Infrastructure Development Association designed to fast-track promising urban developments from concept to reality. Seven projects pitched to potential investors and partners.
From Kenya, Green Heart Kilifi presented its regenerative eco-village on Kenya’s coast, which has already built 5 kilometers of roads and solar infrastructure. The project’s founder revealed that solving water challenges through planned desalination could be the key to unlocking significant land value increases.
Hodhi, an innovative platform which aims to democratize real estate investment for ordinary Kenyans through a Real Estate investment Trust (REIT) investment scheme starting at only 50 Kenya shillings was also among the projects presented.
Morocco based TBTM Studios unveiled plans for a $2-3 billion entertainment hub in Ben Guérir, positioning itself as “Africa’s answer to Hollywood’s evolution”. The project aims to address both Hollywood’s rising production costs and diversity gaps by establishing world-class production facilities located 30 minutes from the city of Marrakesh.
The Sherbro Island City project, backed by actor Idris Elba, showcased its ambitious plan to transform a Sierra Leone island into a world-class destination for business and tourism through innovative public-private partnerships.
Other featured projects included Uxene Smart City in Mozambique, designed to house 350,000 people with 50% green spaces and solar energy integration and Zanzibar’s Fumba Town which promises to deliver decentralized big data storage infrastructure for investors.
A key theme throughout the summit was Africa’s potential to leverage its vast mineral wealth for sustainable job creation. Panel discussions highlighted how countries like Botswana, a globally renown diamond producer and Morocco which is rich in phosphates, have successfully moved beyond raw exports toward value-added processing.
Infrastructure development emerged as crucial, with projects like the Lobito Corridor -connecting Zambia, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo – cited as examples of cross-border collaboration that could dramatically reduce transport costs and boost industrial efficiency.
Panellists also noted that the continent’s young population is a strategic asset, emphasizing the need for technical training and science education to build a resilient workforce capable of supporting localized supply chains.
The summit also explored how Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are evolving from traditional export-focused enclaves into dynamic innovation ecosystems. Kenya’s transition from labor-intensive SEZ models toward high-value infrastructure like data centers – supported by skilled workforce and green energy – was highlighted as a model for the continent.
Modern SEZ success, delegates learned, depends on robust governance, streamlined regulations, and plug-and-play infrastructure that reduces investor risk while improving operational efficiency.
Several sessions focused on how technology clusters and universities are becoming critical anchors for new city ecosystems. The ‘Silicon Zanzibar’ initiative, with Fumba Town at its heart, was presented as an example of how African cities can position themselves as globally connected tech hubs.
Climate resilience featured prominently, with discussions on smart technologies, sustainable planning, and innovative approaches to urban environmental challenges. Some sessions even explored cutting-edge concepts like geoengineering for urban climate management.
Throughout the summit, emphasis was placed on the need for robust public-private partnerships and innovative financing models. The NXT50 Cities Coalition, bringing together leading city-builders and investors, used the summit to strengthen networks and share best practices.
Dr. Mark Lutter, founder of the Charter Cities Institute, noted in his closing remarks that the summit represents a critical moment for Africa’s urban development.
“We’re not just talking about building cities – we’re architecting how over 2 billion people will live, work, and thrive in the coming decades,” he said.
The summit concluded with commitments to continue collaboration through working groups focused on policy development, investment facilitation and knowledge sharing. A comprehensive white paper on Africa’s urban development roadmap is expected to emerge from discussions held during the event.
For Kenya, hosting this landmark summit reinforces Nairobi’s position as a continental hub for innovation and investment, while showcasing homegrown projects and the country’s evolving SEZ strategy.
As Africa continues its rapid urbanization journey, the conversations and connections made at the New Cities Summit 2025 are expected to influence urban development policies and investment flows across the continent for years to come.
The next New Cities Summit, tentatively scheduled to take place in West Africa in 2027, is expected to build on this momentum, with more groundbreaking projects from across Africa expected to be showcased at what has now become the continent’s premier urban development gathering.
