Investors at the 12th Africa CEO Forum have signed agreements to invest $200m in various sectors in the continent.
The Forum, which held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, saw the presence of more than 2,800 business leaders, investors, and public decision-makers from 90 countries under the theme: “Can a New Public-Private Deal Reshape the Continent’s Future?”
A statement stated that participants explored ways to strengthen collaboration between the public and private sectors to boost Africa’s economic growth.
“Discussions centred on three key pillars: Improving economic governance, optimising public policy and accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). These priorities aim to create a more favorable environment for investment, encourage innovation, and drive deeper economic integration across the continent.
“One of the Forum’s highlights was the presidential panel, which brought together several heads of state, including Presidents Alassane Ouattara (Côte d’Ivoire), Bassirou Diomaye Faye (Senegal), Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa), Mohamed Ould Ghazouani (Mauritania) and Paul Kagame (Rwanda). President Ramaphosa emphasised the importance of strong public-private partnerships for Africa’s development and integration, stressing the need for increased collaboration to address today’s economic challenges.
It noted that several agreements were signed during the forum, with total commitments estimated at over $200 million.
“Access Bank Plc and a consortium of major development finance institutions, led by DEG, signed a $100m facility to support Nigerian SMEs and women entrepreneurs for growth financing, economic inclusion and gender equality.
