09:00 | Welcome Remarks
Karen Taylor, CEO, Invest Africa
Rt. Hon. Mark Simmonds, Chairman of the Advisory Board, Invest Africa
09:15 | The Fundamentals of Harnessing African Opportunities
Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO, Africa Finance Corporation
09:30 I UK-Africa Partnerships: Update on the UK Government’s Trade and Investment Policy Priorities in Africa
Rt. Hon. Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Secretary of State for International Trade
09:50 | Overview: Africa’s Role in a Time of Geopolitical Turmoil with Nick Allan, CEO, Control Risks
The triple threats of the pandemic, the climate crisis and Russia’s war in Ukraine have ushered in an era of global uncertainty and forced profound geopolitical realignments that will continue to define Africa’s engagements with the global community. Western powers’ drive to diversify supply chains could herald new opportunities for Africa to redefine its role in the global economy as the continent pursues its ambitious plans for regional integration. However, without meaningful long-term investments and greater international collaboration there is a risk that Africa’s demographic dividend could turn against the continent while the impacts of the climate crisis could undermine stability in the region with knock-on effects globally. Our political opening will unpack the major trends to look out for and how Africa might fare in a changing geopolitical landscape.
What political and economic headwinds should investors and businesses be paying attention to in Africa?
How can pan-African institutions elevate the continent’s voice on the global stage?
Given that net-zero cannot be achieved without Africa, what more can global leaders do to ensure a just green transition as we approach COP27?
10:15 | Break
10:45 I Keynote Address
Rt. Hon. Vicky Ford, Minister for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean
11:00 | Professor Benedict Oramah, President, Afreximbank & H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary General, AfCFTA Secretariat in conversation with Rt. Hon. Mark Simmonds, Chairman of the Advisory Board, Invest Africa
11:45 I Debate: Trade & Investment - How can Africa be More Competitive in a Global Context?
With a quarter of the world’s population expected to be African by 2050 and the largest free trade area in the world in the form of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Africa continues to underperform in the global market. Hampered by elevated perceived risks, the high cost of foreign exchange and lack of transparency and predictability, Africa has struggled to fill its funding gap. Making the continent more globally competitive for foreign direct investment and unlocking trade flows in the region is essential to accelerating growth, driving job creation and leveraging investment into critical infrastructure projects. In this session leading financial institutions will discuss how the continent can leverage its ambitious trade policies and innovations in financial services to facilitate the flow of capital towards catalytic projects.
Moderator:
Runa Alam, Co-Founding Partner & CEO, Development Partners International
Speakers:
Cheryl Buss, International CEO, Absa Group
Gagan Gupta, Founder & CEO ARISE IIP, ARISE IS and ARISE P&L
Uche Orji, CEO, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority
Temi Popoola, CEO, Nigerian Exchange Limited
12:30 I Lunch
13:30 I Fireside Chat with Strive Masiyiwa, Executive Chairman, Econet Group
14:00 Keynote Address
H.E. Dr. Ashatu Kijaji, Minister for Investment, Industry and Trade, United Republic of Tanzania
Harnessing the East African Opportunity
Mohammed Dewji, CEO & President, MeTL Group in conversation with Patrick Smith, Managing Editor, The Africa Report
14:15 | Unlocking the Next Generation of African Business Leaders
Ade Ayeyemi, Group CEO, Ecobank in conversation with Patrick Smith, Managing Editor, The Africa Report
14:30 I Debate: Mobilising Human Capital - How can Africa Harness its Demographic Dividend?
Africa’s people are one of the continent’s greatest strengths, but without sufficient investment in skills, jobs and financial inclusion the continent’s rapidly growing population could undermine the region’s development. With one of the fastest growing and youngest labour forces in the world, harnessing the power of Africa’s youth is a regional and global priority with significant repercussions for economic growth, digital transformation, and global security. This session will focus on discussing how Africa can most effectively invest in capacity building to support inclusive growth and what digital and financial infrastructure is needed for the region’s SMEs to thrive.
Moderator:
Gary Vaughan-Smith, Founding Partner & Chief Investment Officer | SilverStreet Capital
Speakers:
Chinelo Anohu, Senior Director, Africa Investment Forum, AfDB
Wayne Hennessy-Barrett, CEO, 4G Capital
Hennie Heymans, CEO Sub-Saharan Africa, DHL
Charles Murito, Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Sub-Saharan Africa Google
15:15 | Break
15:45 | Expert Overview: Leveraging Blended Finance to Accelerate Green Investments
Marc-André Blanchard, Executive Vice-President and Head of CDPQ Global and Head of Global Sustainability, CDPQ
16:00 | Africa’s Path to COP27
H.E. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, Arab Republic of Egypt
16:05 I Debate: Mobilising Natural Capital - The Global Net-Zero Race: What is Africa's Role?
At COP26 in November 2021 global leaders acknowledged that significantly more ambitious pledges would be needed if the target of keeping global warming under 1.5C is to be met. Ensuring that developing regions like Africa are supported in investing in green energy whilst continuing to expand access to energy is essential to achieving a just transition. In the run up to COP27 in Cairo, high-emitting nations will need to do more to ensure that those countries who have contributed the least to the climate crisis and yet are set to bear the brunt of its impact, form an integral part of the solution to this global challenge. In this session, panellists will debate what a just transition looks like for Africa and discuss how to leverage more climate finance to support the development of climate-smart infrastructure in the region.
Moderator:
Christopher Marks, Managing Director Head of Emerging Markets, Corporate Banking Division, Europe, Middle East and Africa, MUFG
Speakers:
Jennifer Boca, Head of Environment, Social and Governance, Lekela Power
Sanjeev Gupta, Executive Director for Financial Services, Africa Finance Corporation
Daniel Hanna, Global Head of Sustainable Finance, Standard Chartered Bank
Joel Kibazo, Senior Advisor, C-Pesa
16:45 | Expert Overview: Investor Sentiment Update
Lucie Villa, Vice President, Senior Credit Officer, Moody’s Investors Service
17:00 I Debate: Mobilising Financial Capital - What investment model will attract global capital to Africa?
The pandemic highlighted the urgent need to mobilise more private capital to invest in high-impact sectors in Africa from infrastructure to healthcare. Now, as the continent looks to drive a return to growth, will the renewed focus on impact in global markets unlock a sustained uptick in flows of global capital into African markets? We’ll be discussing which investment instruments and models offer the most effective routes to secure capital commitments in an increasingly competitive landscape and how development finance and private equity can leverage blended finance to make Africa more investable.
Moderator:
Christopher Baird, Partner, DLA Piper
Confirmed Speakers:
Nisrin Abdouelezz, Managing Director, Head of Africa Group | SMBC Bank International
Nick O’Donohoe, CEO, British International Investment
Babatunde Soyoye, Managing Partner, Helios Investment Partners
Mohan Vivekanandan, Group Executive: Origination & Coverage, Development Bank of Southern Africa
17:45 I Closing Remarks
18:15 I Reception
20:00 I Close