WEF to help Africa

Over 700 high-level participants are expected to participate in the 17th annual World Economic Forum in Africa

Billed as the “Davos of Africa”, the World Economic Forum on Africa will convene in Cape Town from 13 to 15 June. The agenda for this 17th annual World Economic Forum meeting in Africa will focus on building capacity for success. Under the working theme “Raising the Bar”, the high-level gathering of representatives from governments, business, international organizations, civil society as well as experts will focus on leveraging Africa’s increasingly strategic role in the global arena. It will feature innovative partnerships to sustain growth, address human and infrastructure capacity constraints, and assess opportunities for an improved African investment climate.

“Buoyed by strong growth, and on the back of booming commodity prices, improved governance and strong Asian interest, Africa is making its move … business has much to gain by dedicating skills, technology and resources to ensure this new growth is sustained, and recent African successes are replicated,” said Haiko Alfeld, Director and Head of Africa at the World Economic Forum.

Leading political leaderswho have already confirmed their participation are: Joseph Kabila, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo; Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa; Levy Mwanawasa, President of Zambia; Bingu Wa Mutharika, President of Malawi; and Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal. Other prominent figures who will participate are: Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General (1997-2006), now deeply engaged in African-led development and governance initiatives on the continent; and Donald Kaberuka , President, African Development Bank, Tunis.

The Co-Chairs of the meeting are: Cynthia Carroll, Chief Executive, Anglo American, United Kingdom; Li Ruogu, Chairman and President, Export-Import Bank of China, People’s Republic of China; Tokyo Sexwale, Executive Chairman, Mvelaphanda Holdings, South Africa; and Malvinder M. Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Ranbaxy Laboratories, India. Please click here to access the Abridged List of Participants and the List of Partners.

Join the Africa Conversation and contribute to building a session: this year, for the first time ever, a s part of the spirit of openness generated by the new Web 2.0 technologies, everyone is invited to have a say in a conversation about Africa with world leaders at the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town. Contribute to this conversation between the leaders of the continent and concerned global citizens at http://www.forumblog.org/africaconversation/