The year 2014 saw the Rebranding Africa Forum (RAF) establish itself as one of the essential frameworks for exchanges on the in-depth transformations Africa needs to make a fresh start and develop.
The first edition held on October 18, 2014, whose theme was “Africa’s emergence, at what price?”, had highlighted the challenges and prospects, the paths, stages and modalities of this process. There was also consensus that the success of this process will depend on a number of social, political and cultural factors, all of which must be backed up by a solid economic infrastructure. This is precisely what is at stake at the second edition of the RAF in Brussels, on the theme of “Investing in Africa, undertaking for Africa”.
In fact, thanks to the years of economic growth that have followed one another on the continent, we’re seeing a return to prominence of the State on the investor scene. How can we model and channel this return of the investor state in Africa, so as to make economic growth more sustainable and inclusive? How can we articulate and promote win-win partnerships between public and private investors, and in which sectors? How can we identify and meet the challenges likely to make African economies more attractive to international investors and entrepreneurs? What are the priority sectors for investment in Africa, and how should they be targeted? What structural measures should be adopted to foster the emergence and consolidation of a strong, dynamic local entrepreneurial base?
Faced with the challenge of attractiveness, Africa will have to commit to resolving the issue of investment guarantees, in order to secure financing on the one hand, and encourage business promotion on the other.
It was against this backdrop that the Fonds Africain de Garantie et de Coopération took an active part in the second Rebranding Africa Forum. Through this forum, FAGACE intends to bring its forty years of experience to bear on development financing in Africa.
These were the issues that fueled the discussions and exchanges between personalities and experts from the four corners of the globe, business leaders, economic and political decision-makers, national and international investors, heads of financial institutions, young executives from Africa and the African diaspora, academics, the media, etc.
