The 11th Africa CEO Forum
officially opened on Thursday at the Kigali Convention Centre with a call on
African CEOs to upgrade their mindset and aim for quality to become truly prosperous.
Hosted for the second
time in Rwanda's capital, Kigali, the forum which aims to discuss the critical
elements needed to boost African development through the dynamics of growth
offered by the continent's private sector, brought together over 2,000
participants, including Heads of State, business leaders, investors, and
financiers.
In his opening address, H.E
Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, stressed the need for Africa to upgrade its
mindset and aim for quality to become truly prosperous. He highlighted the
importance of transforming raw materials into high-quality products and selling
them back to ourselves, stressing that it may not be sustainable but is simple
and clear.
“But to become truly prosperous, we have to upgrade our
mindsets and aim for quality. We must transform our raw materials into
high-quality products and sell them back to ourselves. It may not be sustainable,
but it is simple and clear,” he
said.
The two-day forum, themed
"At the table or on the menu? A critical moment to shape a new future for
Africa," will explore a new future for Africa through over 60 panel
discussions, public-private workshops, and closed-door roundtables. Critical
topics to be addressed include leadership, digital future, integration,
finance, infrastructure, sports business, tourism, hospitality, pharmaceutical
capacity, and how technology can future-proof African youth.
Other key areas of focus
include international development strategy, access to capital, public-private
sector dialogue, legal environment, and skills management. Experts note that
after a quarter-century of favorable macroeconomic conditions for Africa,
marked by easy money, commodity booms, and relative political stability, the
landscape has shifted dramatically.
The Africa CEO Forum 2024
provides a timely opportunity for leaders to discuss and shape a new future for
Africa, building on the continent's private sector dynamics to drive growth and
prosperity.
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
