Regional leadership convergence as Rwanda hosts prestigious ‘Africa CEO Forum Summit’
Rwanda is again in the spotlight as it prepares to host the prestigious Africa CEO Summit this May 2024, another boost to the country’s ‘Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions’ (MICE) industry.
MICE agenda. This year's theme is "At the Table or On the Menu? A Critical Moment to Shape a New Future for Africa." As business executives from across the continent converge in Kigali, the significance of this gathering cannot be overstated. Jeune Afrique and International Finance Cooperation are co-hosting the summit.
This year’s theme underscores Africa's pivotal moment, where decisions made today will have far-reaching implications for the continent's future. It challenges participants to consider whether they will actively shape Africa's destiny or be mere spectators as others make decisions on their behalf. It's also a call to action for African business executives to take their seat at the table and drive the continent's development and prosperity agenda.
According to the organisers, this event will tackle four transformative agendas: leadership, digital transformation, continental integration, and financing. Through a series of panel discussions, workshops, and roundtables, participants will explore strategies to achieve the highest public policy standards conducive to growth; to ensure African business is at the forefront of disruptive innovation and also leverage Africa's collective weight through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Designed to spur actionable solutions, the summit will accelerate the rise of new African success stories.
A statement from IFC quotes Amir Ben Yahmed, President of the Africa CEO Forum, saying, "We call on our community of leaders shaping the future of Africa to recognise the structural and enduring consequences of the actions they take at this critical time. The forum will be a crucible for innovative strategies and partnerships, propelling the continent into tomorrow's opportunities."
Sérgio Pimenta, IFC's Vice President for Africa, is also quoted as saying that "Turning Africa's $3 trillion GDP into $30 trillion by 2050 will require an unbridled African private sector, enabled by the continent's policymakers to forge partnerships that create markets, increase intra-African trade, and advance investment on the continent."
For Rwanda, hosting the Africa CEO Summit is not just a matter of prestige but also a testament to its growing stature as a hub for business and investment, capitalising on an invaluable opportunity to showcase the country’s progress, stability, and investment-friendly environment to CEOs, investors, and decision-makers from around the world.
It's also a chance for Rwanda to highlight its success stories, innovation ecosystem, and commitment to sustainable development, further cementing its position as a preferred destination for business and investment in Africa.
As the country continues to invest in state-of-the-art conference facilities, infrastructure, and hospitality services, hosting high-profile events like the Africa CEO Summit helps attract more business travellers, conference delegates, and event organisers to Rwanda. This, in turn, drives economic growth, creates job opportunities, and enhances Rwanda's reputation as a leading MICE destination in Africa.
The Africa CEO Forum is the continent's premier gathering. It annually unites Africa's top executives, global investors, and government leaders and attracts more than 2,000 public and private sector decision-makers, including over 900 CEOs.
According to IFC confirmed attendees include Wamkele Mene, General Secretary of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA); Makhtar Diop, Managing Director of IFC; Sidi Ould Tah, Président of BADEA; Jerome Henique, CEO of Orange Africa & Middle East; Karim Beguir, CEO of InstaDeep; Claudio Descalzi, CEO of Eni, Arnaud Lagesse, Group CEO of IBL LTD; Sudhir Ruparelia, Chairman of Ruparelia Group; Clare Akamanzi; CEO of NBA Africa; Rostam Aziz, CEO of Taifa Gas; Selim Bora, Chairman of Summa International Construction Group; Mesfin Tassew, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines and Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman of the Board of Schneider Electric.
The Africa CEO Forum was founded in 2012 as a leading platform for CEOs of the most prominent African and multinational companies, investors, heads of state, ministers, and representatives of the leading financial institutions active on the continent. Undoubtedly the place of high-level meetings, the summit aims to propose concrete and innovative solutions to move the continent and its businesses forward.
Read IFC press stament here
