Emerging Markets Digital Transformation & Investment Forum in Helsinki
From digital transformation to investment, business growth and sustainable economic opportunity.
The Emerging Markets Digital Transformation & Investment Forum opens Africa–Europe Investor Week at Slush 2026, bringing together government leaders, investors, development finance institutions, technology companies and digital ecosystem actors from Africa, Asia and Europe.
The Forum will explore how emerging markets can translate digital transformation into stronger economies, investable opportunities and sustainable growth.
About the Forum
Digital transformation has the potential to strengthen public services, improve connectivity, support innovation and create new commercial opportunities. Realising that potential, however, requires more than technology.
It depends on enabling policies and regulations, fit-for-purpose infrastructure, institutional capacity, appropriate financing and partnerships capable of taking promising solutions from pilot to scale.
The Forum will bring different actors into one conversation around two central questions:
What conditions need to exist for digital transformation to happen at scale?
How can digital transformation translate into investment, business growth and economic opportunity?
Research-informed keynote contributions and cross-sector discussions will examine the respective roles of governments, investors, technology providers and development partners in building the foundations for inclusive and sustainable digital growth.
From strategic dialogue to sector opportunities
The morning programme will establish the wider economic and investment context, exploring emerging-market growth, digital infrastructure, investment flows and the partnerships required to accelerate digital transformation.
In the afternoon, the programme will move into more focused engagement around specific sectors and priority areas. These sessions will connect the morning’s strategic discussions with practical opportunities, sector-level challenges and potential partnerships.
The detailed programme, sector focus areas and speakers will be announced shortly.
Part of Africa–Europe Investor Week
The Forum is the opening event of Africa–Europe Investor Week at Slush 2026, a connected programme designed to strengthen the relationships, market understanding and trust that precede investment.
Across the week, African fund managers, high-net-worth individuals, investment leaders and ecosystem partners will engage with European investors, family offices, development finance institutions and business leaders. The ambition is to help turn investor interest into credible partnerships and, ultimately, deals.
The Forum provides the strategic starting point for that journey by examining how digital progress can create commercial opportunity, attract investment and contribute to sustainable economic transformation.
Who should attend?
The Forum is designed for:
African and European investors
Development finance institutions
Technology and connectivity companies
Fund managers and business leaders
Development cooperation partners
Experts working across digital transformation, investment and emerging markets
What participants can expect
High-level perspectives on the future of digital growth in emerging markets
Practical discussion across government, investment, technology and development
Insights into the relationship between digital progress and investable opportunity
Focused afternoon engagement around priority sectors and opportunities
New relationships across African, Asian and European markets
A strategic entry point into the wider Africa–Europe Investor Week
Partners
The Forum is being developed in partnership with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, D4D Hub, AEDIB 2.0, HAUS Finland and other Global Gateway partners.
Registration
Register to join the conversation.
Participation is subject to confirmation due to limited capacity.
Please note that the afternoon programs from 13-17:00 are invite-only events.
Further information on the programme, speakers, sector sessions and venue access will be shared with confirmed participants.