Accelerating Africa’s Transformation: Opportunities and Challenges

Session Overview: The “Accelerating Africa’s Transformation: Opportunities and Challenges” forum at the New Africa Business Development Forum will bring together key stakeholders, including economic leaders, investors, policymakers, and industry experts, to explore the multifaceted opportunities and challenges in Africa’s dynamic economic landscape. The session will emphasize the importance of tailored approaches to individual African countries, the need for robust infrastructure, and the potential of key sectors such as tourism, hospitality, and clean energy. It aims to foster deeper understanding and collaboration for sustainable development across the continent. ?

Key Panels and Discussions:

Panel 1: Diversified Economic Transformation and Industrialization

• Focus: This panel will explore strategies for Africa’s economic diversification and industrialization. Emphasis will be placed on reducing reliance on primary commodities and leveraging the continent’s youthful population and rich resources. Discussions will include the role of SMEs, industrial policies, and the green and digital transitions.
• Speakers: Bogolo J. Kenewendo, Max Walter, San Bilal

Panel 2: Infrastructure as a Catalyst for Growth

• Focus: Infrastructure development is critical to unlocking Africa’s economic potential. This panel will discuss the current infrastructure deficits and the importance of regional integration to improve connectivity. Key sectors include transport, logistics, energy, and ICT.
• Speakers: Omar Jabri, Edward K. Brown

Panel 3: Investment Strategies and Financial Architecture

• Focus: This panel will address the financing needs for Africa’s economic transformation, including the challenges of bridging the substantial financing gap. Discussions will cover the importance of a reformed global financial architecture and the roles of domestic and international investors.
• Speakers: Célestin Monga, Fola Fagbule

Panel 4: The African Tourism and Hospitality Frontier

• Focus: The transformative potential of the tourism and hospitality industry in Africa will be examined, particularly in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and technological advancements. This panel will explore how these factors are reshaping the sector and creating new opportunities for growth.
• Speakers: To be confirmed

Panel 5: Harnessing Africa’s Clean Energy Potential

• Focus: This discussion will highlight the opportunities in Africa’s clean energy sector, including solar, wind, and geothermal power. The panel will address the challenges of expanding electricity grids, the need for sustainable power solutions, and the policy and investment requirements to support these initiatives.
• Speakers: To be confirmed

Interactive Session: Africa Investors Talk Panel

• Focus: A dialogue-driven session where experienced investors will share their insights on investing in Africa. Topics will include the diversity of the continent’s markets, successful investment strategies, and the critical role of infrastructure in enabling growth across various sectors.
• Speakers: To be confirmed