World Investment Forum — harnessing public-private
dialogue to galvanize investment in the Development Goals
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has long championed the role of global investment in advancing development objectives. This focus resonates strongly with the international community’s ambitious set of sustainability targets — the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — which is the mainstay of the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
UNCTAD estimates the annual investment requirements to meet the SDGs at $3.9 trillion in developing countries alone. Current levels of investment are well below this level, leaving a shortfall of some $2.5 trillion — an amount that far outstrips the combined force of public investment, aid and remittances. The scope of this investment gap signals a vital role for the private sector to advance the SDGs.
Seeking to engage the private sector for this purpose, UNCTAD will hold the fifth World Investment Forum in Nairobi, Kenya from 18-21 July 2016. This high-level event will gather Heads of State, global CEOs, thought leaders and other top investment-development stakeholders to frame tangible private sector solutions to advance the Goals.
Policy Solutions, innovative resource mobilization and constructive partnerships will be critical to restore confidence and catalyze investment to meet pressing global challenges. The Forum will seek to foster collaborative action to unlock investment flows in high-priority SDG sectors in support of the world’s most vulnerable.
Through a rich programme of high-profile events, the Forum will also provide unparallelled networking opportunities, as well as a meeting place to shape investment-oriented development solutions, exchange ideas, forge partnerships and launch actions to meet the SDGs.
This year the Forum takes place in conjunction with the quadrennial UNCTAD Ministerial Meeting, which convenes State leaders of the UN 193 member countries to determine the organization’s mandate.
Venue: Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi Kenya
Date: 18-21 July 2016
Contact: wif@unctad.org
For more information: http://unctad-worldinvestmentforum.org/
Attendance is free upon registration.
The Global African Investment Summit COMESA & Government of Rwanda will debut at the new Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda on the 5th and 6th September 2016.
Held under the high patronage of His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, and in partnership with COMESA & Government of Rwanda, the summit seeks to drive trade and investment into Africa’s most dynamic region, with Rwanda hosting the first edition on the continent.
The summit will attract 1,000 public and private sector leaders representing US$200 billion of funds and with an interest in the investment, trade and business opportunities arising in the region.
Delegates include African heads of states, government ministers and senior officials, chief executive officers and chairmen, who will gather to transact on project opportunities and deploy investment.
Programme agenda
Delivering trade and investment to Africa’s most dynamic region.
Featuring presidential keynotes, expert panels, sector-focused discussions and unlimited networking, this year’s programme aims to engage the private sector on the TFTA initiative, and explores how the public and private sector can work together to realise the aspiration of Africa’s largest single market.
The summit themes and agenda will closely reflect the ambition of the landmark Tripartite arrangement, aimed at creating the largest trading block in Africa, comprising 26 countries, 620 million consumers, a combined GDP of almost $1.2 trillion USD.
The summit will cover various topics including: how investment is spearheading Africa’s transformation, the pros and cons of the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA), digitalisation, agricultural development and growth and intra-regional trade.
The keynote which will be focused on the Smart Africa Initiative, and how African countries are coming together and transforming ICT and knowledge driven economies to promote growth across the continent will be given by His Excellence Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda.
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the Government of India have pledged to make the Bank Group’s 2017 Annual Meetings a resounding success. The Meetings are scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad, the capital of the state of Gujarat, from May 22-26, 2017.
The commitment followed a Memorandum of Understanding endorsed by both parties on Thursday, September 15, 2016, at the end of the Bank’s first Annual Meetings Preparatory mission to assess facilities and logistics for the event in Ahmedabad.
“For us this is a special moment. It officially kick-starts preparations for the 2017 Annual Meetings and underscores the growing cooperation between the Bank and India in particular, and between India and Africa in general,” AfDB Secretary-General, Vincent Nmehielle, said after he signed the MOU on behalf of President Akinwumi Adesina.
The Meetings, taking place on the heels of the India-Africa Summit held in New Delhi last year, would further boost the long-standing economic cooperation between the two sides and open up new avenues for fruitful business engagements between them, he added.
The Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Bandana Preyashi, who signed on behalf of the Finance Secretary, said that the Government and people of India highly appreciate the opportunity they have been given to host the Bank’s most important annual event.
Mobile is a transformative technology that has already had a significant economic and social impact upon the Middle East and North Africa. Identifying and addressing the key challenges and opportunities disruptive technologies is having across these markets is the core mission of Mobile 360 Series – MENA 2017.
Mobile 360 – MENA includes a mix of keynotes speakers, panel discussions, workshops, in-depth case studies, productive networking, and a technology showcase aimed at senior-level decision makers from Mobile Network Operators, governments, brands and verticals from across the MENA region.
High profile speakers together with leaders from across the mobile ecosystem come to discuss relevant topics including regulatory modernisation, digital transformation, customer experience, social video networks, 5G, AI, cyber security, smart cities, connected cars, digital identity and the blockchain, financial inclusion and mobile-commerce, and disaster response. This year, our event will also include a brand new North Africa Regional Focus session.
Join us at Mobile 360 –MENA in Dubai, UAE on 9-10 October 2017 as we progress towards a fully connected society. Register to attend at www.mobile360series.com/mena.
AFSIC 2018 confirms over 150 excellent speakers
AFSIC 2018 has this month confirmed over 150 speakers from a variety of excellent financial services companies and at the beginning of December will release a full agenda to the market. With ABSA Corporate Investment Bank heading up an impressive group of supporting sponsors AFSIC 2018 promises to be one of the most important African Investment events held globally.
AFSIC, in its sixth year, has a very strong investment focus and is attended by many of the most important global investors investing into Africa and by investors interested in learning more about African investment opportunities and will be held in London on 2nd to 4th May 2018.
AFSIC 2018 will see a gathering of African companies including many African Financial services companies including Banks, Insurance Companies, Microfinance Companies and Leasing Companies, as well as a wide array of Fintech companies. The dynamic conference will see structured presentation sessions complemented by an array of networking events, meetings and country focussed sessions, offering multiple opportunities to network and develop strong and sustainable business relationships with investors.
For full details please see the AFSIC website: www.afsic.net