WORLD TRADE CENTER ST. LOUIS GROWING GLOBAL 2025 FOCUSES ON AFRICA
- Annie Mbale
- Aug 18
- 2 min read
Growing Global 2025: Africa Rising – Navigating Markets, Investments & Trade On September 24, 2025
Growing Global 2025 will explore how and why St. Louis should prioritize engagement with Africa. In an increasingly interconnected world, cities like St. Louis must seize opportunities to forge global relationships that drive innovation, foster cultural understanding and create mutual economic benefits.
Please register/ sponsor and find event info here https://worldtradecenter-stl.com/events-calendar/events/save-the-date-growing-global-2025-africa-rising-navigating-markets-investments-trade/
Speakers include:
The Hon. Francis Gatare, Rwandan Presidential Advisor and CEO of the Rwanda Development Board
Fred Swaniker, Ghanaian serial entrepreneur and founder of the African Leadership Group. Time Magazine Most Influential People 2019 and Founder of ALX.
Elzandi Oosthuizen, South African agricultural leader and Senior Vice President at Bayer Crop Science
The conversation will be guided by Debbie Monterrey, Morning News Anchor at KMOX.
But this isn’t just a one-day event — it’s a movement.
As an african living in the diasapora I know thatthis is huge and I urge my fellow africans to show up because I know that our voices, advocacy, and presence have helped lay the groundwork for what may become one of the most meaningful global connections for St. Louis.
This relationship does not just stop here, there is a potential Sister City relationship between St. Louis and Kigali, Rwanda in development and most importantly, there is a Trade Mission to Rwanda that might be happening in 2026.
This is our moment to keep the momentum going. To be seen. To be heard. To help shape how Africa and African immigrants are represented in business, leadership, and international partnerships right here in our region.
We understand that initiatives like this don’t always feel built for us — but this time, it is because of us. Let’s show up proudly and in numbers, not just for ourselves, but for the next generation of African leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers in St. Louis.
Let’s show the city and the world that Africa is rising — and so are we.
