Africa CEO Forum to Boost International Investment in Africa

By Zacheaus Somorin

The 5th edition of the Africa CEO Forum, the largest international gathering dedicated to the African private sector, takes place on 20 and 21 March 2017 in Geneva.  More than 1000 participants from over 63 countries are expected gather at the forum.

CEOs of the largest African and international companies, bankers and investors most active in Africa as well as decision-makers from the fastest growing African economies will meet at the two-day event to gain strategic insights and share their objectives around development and investment with the business and financial community.

With the global economic slowdown posing a challenge to the growth of African economies, the upcoming edition of the Africa CEO Forum reflects the will of participants, African companies and countries, to revitalize investment flows toward the African continent in order to drive the implementation of their infrastructure and development projects.

“The Africa CEO Forum 2017 will benefit from the presence of CEOs heading up the largest international companies that are leaders in sectors which are key for the African continent such as health, new technologies, agribusiness and commodity trading as well the participation of more than one hundred fund managers and family offices with a growing interest in investing in Africa’’, said Amir Ben Yahmed, Founder and President of the Africa CEO Forum.

A number of top-level African personalitieshave already confirmed that they will participate in the discussions and debates that will set the pace of the 2017 forum. These high-profile participants include: Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank ; Issad Rebrab, Chairman, Cévital; Mo Ibrahim, President, Mo Ibrahim Foundation; Jean Kacou Diagou, Chairman, NSIA.

Others are: Tewolde Gebre Mariam, CEO, Ethiopian Airlines; Henri-Claude Oyima, CEO, BGFI Bank; Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary, UNECA; Aïda Diarra, Vice-President for Africa, Western Union; Uche Orji, CEO, Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority; Ashok Shah, Group CEO, Apollo Investment Limited; Makthar Diop, Vice-President for Africa, World Bank; Oba Otudeko, Founder and Chairman, Honeywell Group and several ministers of economy or

 finance from various African countries.