Investing in Africa for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development – IEFA 2023 Highlights.
I was honored to participate as a panelist during the AUC-OECD #AfricaForum on the 31st of October 2023 where I discussed opportunities and challenges to accelerate sustainable investment in Africa.
The 2023 International Economic Forum on Africa was jointly organized with the African Union Commission, the Agence Française de Développement and the CDP Cassa Depositi e Prestiti and with the support of ASCI – The African Sports & Creative Institute. The Forum also marked the beginning of a new phase of cooperation between the OECD – OCDE and the African Union.
It gathered public sector decision makers and private investors to explore the untapped opportunities for sustainable investment in Africa and to discuss reforms in the global financial architecture to enhance access to affordable finance. We were joined by dignitaries including H. E. Faure Gnassingbé, president of Togo, H. E. Amadou Ba, Prime Minister of Senegal, Albert Muchanga, the Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals, African Union Commission and alot more. At the Forum, particular attention was placed on how to mobilise African and international institutional investors to finance infrastructure as well as the investment opportunities offered in dynamic sectors such as the creative, cultural and sports industries.
During my session, I discussed the continent’s untapped opportunities, channeling private capital to address Africa’s most pressing development challenges, reviewed policy options to boost sustainable investment, and my views on how the global financial architecture should be reformed, to enhance Africa’s access to affordable finance.
I closed my session with reference to the New York Times article which states that “the world is becoming more African,” and charts how the youth boom in Africa will change the world. We must continue to build bridges and partnerships to nurture this incredible talent & jointly address shared challenges in order to chart a better future for all.
SOCIAL MEDIA
