Kigali will host the African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) Annual Conference from November 26 to 28, 2025, Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE) has announced. This will be the second time Rwanda hosts the flagship gathering of African stock exchanges, the first being in 2016.. The conference is expected to bring together over 300 participants, including stock exchange leaders, capital market regulators, investors, professionals, and policymakers from across Africa and beyond. It will be held under the theme “Adapting to Global Market Shifts and Events: Strategies for Resilience and Growth for African Markets of the Future,” which, according to the organisers, reflects the urgency for African capital markets to find collective solutions to shared challenges such as low market liquidity, limited listings, and weak financial literacy. ALSO READ: ASEA urges Africa exchanges to ease entry barriers for SMEs According to Pierre Celestin Rwabukumba, CEO of the RSE and President of the African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA), the upcoming conference is a timely opportunity for the continent’s capital market leaders to reflect, align, and act in the face of global disruptions. “Liquidity challenges, the low number of companies coming to the market, and limited financial literacy are not isolated problems. They are shared across the continent, and this conference gives us a space to discuss real policy options that can help us move forward together,” he said. Rwabukumba emphasised that Rwanda’s selection as host reflects the trust it has earned across the continent, not just for its conference infrastructure, but for its growing role in leading financial integration efforts. “We were chosen not just because we can organize, but because we’re showing what’s possible. It’s an opportunity to shine a light on Rwanda’s financial sector and support our journey through the Kigali International Financial Centre,” he noted. ALSO READ: Africa’s exchanges urged to be innovative and integrate to attract more investment Thapelo Tshelole, CEO of the Capital Markets Authority of Rwanda, emphasised the scale and relevance of the ASEA Conference, calling it one of Africa’s most important gatherings for financial markets. He noted that hosting the conference again is a major achievement, adding visibility to Rwanda’s growing financial sector. Tshelole observed that the conference is an important platform to discuss the future of African capital markets. “We’re seeing encouraging growth across the industry. This conference gives us the chance to share that progress, learn from one another, and move forward together,” he said.
