Day 1

Speakers:

• Royal Address from His Majesty Mohammed VI, King of Morocco
• Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank Group & Chairperson, Africa Investment Forum

AIF2023 will be opened by a presidential panel that addresses Africa's potential to play a larger role in global value chains. The continent stands at a pivotal moment in its economic journey, with manufacturing, agribusiness, and technology driving growth and industrialization. However, challenges persist such as an infrastructure investment gap and geopolitical disruptions in food. This presidential panel will address ways to accelerate Africa’s industrial development and explore how best to drive value addition on the continent.

• H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania
• H.E. Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of Comoros & Chairperson of the African Union (AU)
• H.E. Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone
• H.E. Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados
• H.E. Dr. Edouard Ngirente, Prime Minister, Rwanda

Moderators

• Abdelmalek Alaoui, CEO, Guepard Group, Columnist, La Tribune

The African Union's Agenda 2063 aims to accelerate Africa's industrialization, with the goal of increasing the continent's share of global manufacturing value-added from the current level of about 1.5% to 7% by 2030 and 15% by 2063. Responsible and sustainable industrialization is critical to the continent’s economic development. This panel will explore opportunities for investment in responsible industrialization, including the adoption of clean technologies, the development of circular economy models, and the promotion of responsible supply chains. The panelists will discuss ways to ensure that industrialization benefits local communities and the environment, while also promoting economic growth and job creation.

Speakers:

• Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO, Africa Finance Corporation
• Alain Ebobissé, CEO, Africa 50
• Moulay Hafid Elalamy, CEO, Saham Group, Former Minister of Industry, Trade, and Digital Economy of Morocco
• Tunde Folawiyo, Managing Director, Folawiyo Group
• Ng Yeen Seen, CEO, Centre for Research, Advisory and Technology (CREATE)
• Chakib Alj, President of the CGEM, the Moroccan representative of the private sector

Moderator:  Aziza Naït Sibaha, Senior TV Anchor

• Mohamed Benchaâboun, President of the Mohammed VI Investment Fund and former Minister of Economy and Finance

Women are the backbone of African economies. However, one of the most critical challenges facing women entrepreneurs and women-led business is access to finance. According to the African Development Bank Group, women operate over 40 percent of African small and medium-sized enterprises. Despite the significant role and size of women businesses, the disparity in the funding gap between men and women entrepreneurs stands at approximately USD 42 billion. Also, according to the International Finance Corporation, African women entrepreneurs receive less than 10 percent of available venture capital funding and just 5 percent of private equity investments. This engagement will highlight individual journeys across diverse sectors.

Africa’s food and agribusiness market could reach $1 trillion by 2030. Africa’s untapped agricultural potential – 65% of the uncultivated arable land left in the world is on the continent - is key to not only feeding its population but also in feeding the world. But to unlock this potential, investments in infrastructure, innovation, value addition, and the entire value chain are crucial.

The creation of Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones facilitates closer connection between players across the value chain, which can stimulate more and more value creation domestically. With the direct impact of this increased value seen through job creation, wealth creation and an agriculture sector better able to withstand external shocks and pressures, could SAPZs be the defining moment in ending food insecurity in Africa for good?

This discussion will feature multiple stakeholder perspectives and will examine how SAPZs can provide investment opportunities for both the private and public sector, in areas as diverse as infrastructure, logistics, technology, and SME financing. Panelists will consider what incentives can be offered to stimulate these investments, what barriers exist, and what success looks like.

Opening Remarks

• Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank Group
• H.E. Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade, Morocco
• H.E. Richard Tusabe, Minister of State for Treasury, Republic of Rwanda

Speakers:

• Prof. Benedict Oramah, President, Afreximbank 
• Hani Salem Sonbol, CEO ITFC and Ag. CEO ICD, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group
• Dejane Tezane, Director -Agribusiness, UNIDO
• Mr. Gagan Gupta, CEO, ARISE IIP
• Dr. Beth Dunford, Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, African Development Bank Group
• Gunther Beger , Managing Director of the Directorate for SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation, UNIDO

Closing Remarks

• Professor Oyebanji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, Senior Special Advisor to the President, African Development Bank Group

Moderator

• Dr. Victor Oladokun, Senior Advisor to the President for Communications and Stakeholder Engagement, African Development Bank Group

Africa is home to a wealth of strategic minerals, including rare earth elements, lithium, and cobalt, which are critical for modern technologies. However, unlocking the value of these minerals requires investment in infrastructure, innovation, and sustainable practices. This panel will explore opportunities for investment in strategic minerals, including the development of downstream industries that can create jobs and promote economic diversification. The panelists will discuss ways to promote sustainable and responsible mining practices that benefit local communities and the environment.

Speakers:

• Swazi Tshabalala, Senior Vice President, African Development Bank
• Amina Benkhadra, CEO, ONHYM
• Georgette Barnes Sakyi-Addo, President, Association of women in mining in Ghana and Executive Director, Georgette Barnes Limited

Moderator:  Martine Dennis, Business Anchor

Keynote Speakers:

• Abdelhamid Addou, CEO, Royal Air Maroc
• Ali Seddiki, Managing Director, AMDIE

Speakers:

• H.E Mustapha Baïtas, Minister in charge of Relations with the Parliament and Spokesman for the Moroccan Government
• The Honourable Baroness Warsi, Member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom
• Alexandre Kateb, Founder, The Multipolarity Report
• Dr. Adeel Malik, Professor of Development Economics, Oxford University

Moderator: Aziza Naït Sibaha, Senior TV Anchor