We were joined by H.E. Jeremiah Mamabolo, High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Republic of South Africa and Ipeleng Selele, Chairperson, Brand South Africa, to welcome our delegates to the 10th Anniversary Reception of The Africa Debate.

Chantelé Carrington, Chief Executive Officer of Invest Africa, delivered the closing remarks at the 10th edition of The Africa Debate, where she thanked our speakers, attendees and valued partners for their contribution to another successful edition of The Africa Debate.

In this session, our speakers discussed the promise and perils of AI in Africa, analysing investment opportunities, risks, ethical and security challenges, and the African Union’s draft Continental AI Strategy.

We were joined by Edan Latzelsberger, Managing Director of Africa HR Solutions, as he covered the fast-growing Employer of Record (EOR) market, with a particular focus on how multinationals, international development organisations and global NGOs are leveraging the EOR solution in Africa to effectively manage an increasingly distributed workforce across the continent.

Monique Gieskes shared her journey in cultivating a socially responsible and sustainable business in the DRC, touching on new policies and initiatives undertaken to foster success that extends beyond profit margins – contributing positively to local communities.

In this session, our speakers discussed the intricacies of luring private capital to African markets, exploring strategies for local capital market development, responsible investment approaches, and the creation of innovative financial instruments.

Cherie Blair and Runa Alam explored the major macro trends shaping Africa’s trade and investment landscape. They discussed a range of topics, including climate change and sustainability, democratic backsliding and political crises, access to finance and capital flows, and macroeconomic stability.

Idris shared his insights on the need for strategic and sustainable investment across Africa, touching on the eco-friendly smart city he is building off the coast of Sierra Leone, his cutting-edge film studio taking shape in Tanzania, and broader efforts to drive sustainable development on the continent.

As the world grapples with the climate crisis, Africa has emerged as a key player in shaping the global energy transition. With abundant reserves of critical minerals like cobalt, essential for electric vehicle batteries, and a wealth of solar resources, the continent holds immense clean energy potential.

We were joined by The Rt Hon Mark Simmonds, Chairman, Advisory Board, Invest Africa, H.E. Hakim Hajoui, Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Kingdom of Morocco and Mehdi Tazi-Riffi, Chief Executive Officer, Tanger Med to discuss the abundant investment opportunities in Morocco.

In this session, our speakers explored strategies to concurrently foster resilience and propel growth amidst the climate crisis, highlighting tools such as carbon taxation and the promotion of sustainable supply chains, as well as broader ways in which the trade, investment and climate agenda can be aligned on the continent to realise a climate-resilient and prosperous Africa.

Despite steering clear of severe market turbulence amid post-pandemic challenges and geopolitical shifts, Africa faces a complex economic landscape in 2024. Growth prospects are subdued by instability, lacklustre performance in major economies, and a backdrop of global economic uncertainty.

Africa’s investment outlook is showing gradual improvement after a turbulent period, with growth projected to reach about 4% in 2024. Still, despite positive signals, including stabilised public debt ratios and significantly reduced inflation, challenges persist – from funding shortages to high borrowing costs. In this session, our speakers delved into into these challenges and opportunities, deconstructing investment-inhibiting views on risk, reward, and return across Africa.

We were joined by The Rt Hon Mark Simmonds, Chairman, Advisory Board, Invest Africa, Sanjeev Gupta, Board Member & Executive Director for Financial Services, Africa Finance Corporation & Karen Taylor, Executive Chair, Invest Africa, for the welcome remarks of the 10th Edition of The Africa Debate.

In June 2024, Invest Africa hosted its special 10th edition of The Africa Debate, convening over 700 delegates from government, business, and finance for three days of programming on Africa’s role in a changing global order.

In partnership with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in the United Kingdom, we hosted a special Morocco Investment Forum on 5th June as part of The Africa Debate Programme.

The Morocco Investment Forum provided a platform for the Moroccan ministerial delegation to share the country’s key investment opportunities and business potential.

Recent years have witnessed a paradigm shift in the landscape of FDI flows to Africa, with the emergence of new investment sources and the expansion of key sectors ripe for investment. Against this backdrop, Afreximbank and Invest Africa presented a project showcase highlighting bankable opportunities for international investors looking to deploy capital into the continent and diversify their portfolios.

Invest Africa, in partnership with Crown Agents Bank, hosted a moderated roundtable discussion focused on Africa's current foreign exchange landscape, and will explore potential partnership and collaboration opportunities within the field to foster innovative solutions.

In partnership with the FCDO's Work and Opportunities for Women Programme, Invest Africa hosted a working session to inform UK Government policy around the economic empowerment of women workers in global supply chains.

Business Roundtable: Empowering Women for Resilient Global Supply Chains

To further strengthen business and investment cooperation between the UK and Rwanda, Invest Africa organised an investor-facing roundtable focusing on key business opportunities within the green economy and green finance space in Rwanda.