The AFRICA CEO FORUM 2015, the key event for the African private sector, taking place in Geneva from 16 to 17 March 2015, was officially launched at the end of a first day rich in meetings and debate.
This year, on the occasion of its inauguration, the third edition of the AFRICA CEO FORUM, organized by the Jeune Afrique group, in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), and Rainbow Unlimited, welcomed more than 8000 participants, speakers and journalists from over 63 countries.
A record attendance that guarantees the success of the AFRICA CEO FORUM whose key objective is to put the spotlight on African capitalism and encourage meetings and debate in anticipation of the change that is sweeping the continent and also to seize the opportunities it is creating for African businesses.
The opening ceremony, chaired by Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank and Amir Ben Yahmed, Director General of the Groupe Jeune Afrique and President of AFRICA CEO FORUM, was the opportunity to comment on the recent economic difficulties experienced in Africa:
"Recent months have been marked by new health, security and economic challenges and a drop in the price of raw materials. But in spite of this, a dynamic is well underway with growth rates of 4% to 7%, or even 8% and over in some countries. It is important to assess the impact of this situation on African businesses, even if there is evidence that a milestone has been reached" declared Amir Ben Yahmed.
"The period of prosperity is over for most of Africa. We realize that untoward winds are blowing on the world economy but to be quite frank, I am as optimistic today as I was yesterday and will be tomorrow" said Donald Kaberuka bringing the opening ceremony to a close.
A FIRST DAY RICH IN DEBATE AND REFLECTION
This first day of the AFRICA CEO FORUM was marked by the intervention of high-profile speakers such as the American economist Jeremy Rifkin, Issad Rebrab, CEO of Cevital, or Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). Experts and attendees discussed growth paths for the African economy over the next five years, digital transition at the heart of business expansion, the profitability of African economic growth...
Jeremy Rifkin noted that "Africa is about to enter into a promising new economic era. Even though the stakes and challenges are many, the benefits linked to the creation of a Digital Africa constitute a real and significant potential for transformation".
Through its rich and substantive program, designed around original and particularly innovating meeting formats - panels (economic growth, strategy), and various sectorial round tables - the AFRICA CEO FORUM 2015 has reaffirmed its position as the key annual event for African CEOs.
Amir Ben Yahmed concluded: "Today, our mission is to highlight the success of the African private sector to inspire entrepreneurship among younger generations and the leaders of tomorrow".
Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of the Africa CEO Forum.
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