Vivek Mittal

Vivek Mittal

CEO - Africa Infrastructure Development Association (AfiDA)

Vivek Mittal is the CEO and member of the Board of the Africa Infrastructure Development Association (AfIDA). In this role, he has led the creation of the Catapult Accelerator for start-up developers of infra. This is a mentorship and peer-to-peer learning program, aimed at scaling private investment with better outcomes in terms of speed, scale, and quality of projects. Over ten live pitch sessions, thirty developers of projects from eighteen countries have pitched projects totaling $ 20 billion in investment. These are private sector and PPP projects from energy, digital-ICT, water, irrigation, rail, airport, SEZ, and new cities. Beyond the Catapult, AfIDA runs a successful training program in project development finance and engages Governments and stakeholders in improving the enabling environment for infrastructure investments on the Continent.


Prior to this role, over the previous twenty-five years in the international energy and renewable energy sector, he has straddled roles as a lender, investor, and developer on over sixty projects in twenty-five countries. He has promoted clean energy start-up IPPs in India, Sri Lanka, CEE, and USA over fifteen years, and serves as the Independent Investment Committee Member on Crescent Capital’s clean energy fund - the first clean energy fund to focus on Turkey and South Eastern Europe. Between 1993 and 2006 he held senior project finance roles in International banks and corporates, including ING Bank, Enron Europe Limited, Edison Capital Europe Limited, and Bank of Scotland (HBOS plc). 


He holds an MBA from Rotterdam School of Management and an MSc (Tech) in Instrumentation from the Birla Institute of Technology in India. He lives with his wife and two children in London.

All Sessions by Vivek Mittal

Day 2 13.06.2025
09:00 - 09:20

Catapult Project Introductions

Main Stage

The demand for well-planned, economically vibrant, and scalable new cities has never been greater. Yet too often, visionary projects struggle to move from concept to reality. The Cities Catapult, an initiative of the Charter Cities Institute and the Africa Infrastructure Development Association is designed to change that. This initiative is a launchpad for the next generation of urban developments—bringing together developers, investors, and policymakers to fast-track the creation of thriving new cities. With a focus on scalable models, innovative financing, and real-world execution, Cities Catapult will connect high-potential city projects with the resources and expertise they need to succeed.

09:55 - 10:35

Catapult: Session 5

Breakout Room 1

In each Catapult session, pioneering urban development projects take center stage, pitching their vision to a panel of expert mentors. From new city ventures and special economic zones to next-generation infrastructure and digital governance models, each project will receive direct feedback, strategic insights, and potential pathways for acceleration. Whether you're an investor, policymaker, or urban innovator, Catapult offers a front-row seat to the ideas shaping the next generation of cities.

11:05 - 11:50

Catapult: Session 6

Breakout Room 1

In each Catapult session, pioneering urban development projects take center stage, pitching their vision to a panel of expert mentors. From new city ventures and special economic zones to next-generation infrastructure and digital governance models, each project will receive direct feedback, strategic insights, and potential pathways for acceleration. Whether you're an investor, policymaker, or urban innovator, Catapult offers a front-row seat to the ideas shaping the next generation of cities.

14:20 - 15:00

Catapult Session 8

Breakout Room 1

In each Catapult session, pioneering urban development projects take center stage, pitching their vision to a panel of expert mentors. From new city ventures and special economic zones to next-generation infrastructure and digital governance models, each project will receive direct feedback, strategic insights, and potential pathways for acceleration. Whether you're an investor, policymaker, or urban innovator, Catapult offers a front-row seat to the ideas shaping the next generation of cities.

Day 1 12.06.2025
09:30 - 09:55

Catapult Project Introductions

Main Stage

The demand for well-planned, economically vibrant, and scalable new cities has never been greater. Yet too often, visionary projects struggle to move from concept to reality. The Cities Catapult, an initiative of the Charter Cities Institute and the Africa Infrastructure Development Association is designed to change that. This initiative is a launchpad for the next generation of urban developments—bringing together developers, investors, and policymakers to fast-track the creation of thriving new cities. With a focus on scalable models, innovative financing, and real-world execution, Cities Catapult will connect high-potential city projects with the resources and expertise they need to succeed.

10:10 - 11:00

Catapult Session 1

Breakout Room 1

In each Catapult session, pioneering urban development projects take center stage, pitching their vision to a panel of expert mentors. From new city ventures and special economic zones to next-generation infrastructure and digital governance models, each project will receive direct feedback, strategic insights, and potential pathways for acceleration. Whether you're an investor, policymaker, or urban innovator, Catapult offers a front-row seat to the ideas shaping the next generation of cities.

11:30 - 12:10

Catapult Session 2

Breakout Room 1

In each Catapult session, pioneering urban development projects take center stage, pitching their vision to a panel of expert mentors. From new city ventures and special economic zones to next-generation infrastructure and digital governance models, each project will receive direct feedback, strategic insights, and potential pathways for acceleration. Whether you're an investor, policymaker, or urban innovator, Catapult offers a front-row seat to the ideas shaping the next generation of cities.

13:20 - 14:00

Catapult Session 3

Breakout Room 1

In each Catapult session, pioneering urban development projects take center stage, pitching their vision to a panel of expert mentors. From new city ventures and special economic zones to next-generation infrastructure and digital governance models, each project will receive direct feedback, strategic insights, and potential pathways for acceleration. Whether you're an investor, policymaker, or urban innovator, Catapult offers a front-row seat to the ideas shaping the next generation of cities.

14:25 - 15:05

Catapult Session 4

Breakout Room 1

In each Catapult session, pioneering urban development projects take center stage, pitching their vision to a panel of expert mentors. From new city ventures and special economic zones to next-generation infrastructure and digital governance models, each project will receive direct feedback, strategic insights, and potential pathways for acceleration. Whether you're an investor, policymaker, or urban innovator, Catapult offers a front-row seat to the ideas shaping the next generation of cities.

15:50 - 16:35

Cities as an Asset Class: Investing in New Cities

Main Stage

As new cities emerge across the globe, a critical question is taking shape: can cities themselves be treated as an investable asset class? This session brings together investors, developers, and policy experts to explore the financial models, risk frameworks, and governance structures that make large-scale urban development viable. From revenue-backed infrastructure to public-private partnerships, we’ll examine how to unlock long-term value while building the cities of the future.