22nd International Economic Forum on Africa to be held in Paris

The Forum hosts Europe's largest annual conversation on Africa's ongoing, formidable transformation

FinTech BizNews Service 

Mumbai, 28 October, 2023: What is holding back investment in Africa? Foreign direct investment to the continent decreased from 12% of the world’s total in 2017 to less than 6% in 2021. Yet, Africa boasts a huge diversity of assets, not least in its young and vibrant human capital, and vast renewable energy resources. These should attract a much larger share of the world’s soaring investment in transformative and sustainable activities. The 22nd International Economic Forum on Africa is organised by the OECD Development Centre and the African Union Commission. There is an opportunity to explore the continent’s untapped opportunities, review policy options to boost sustainable investment, and discuss reforms in the global financial architecture that can enhance its access to affordable finance.

The Forum debates will build on the findings of the recently launched Africa’s Development Dynamics 2023, a report by the African Union Commission, produced in collaboration with the OECD Development Centre. The Forum hosts Europe’s largest annual conversation on Africa’s ongoing, formidable transformation. It invites African and OECD policy makers, investors, academics, civil society and international organisations to share their views, and discuss how better policies can improve development outcomes for Africans and the world.

The event is held on the same day as the launch of the 2023 edition of Revenue Statistics in Africa. The report presents internationally comparable statistics on tax and non-tax revenues that help track progress on domestic resource mobilisation and inform tax policy analysis and reforms. 

Speakers include:

• Mathias Cormann, Secretary General, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
• H. E. Faure Gnassingbé, President of Togo
• Renganaden Padayachy, Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and  Development, Republic of Mauritius
• Albert Muchanga, Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals, African Union Commission
• Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir, Director, OECD Development Centre
• Issiaka Konate, General Consul to Paris, Côte d’Ivoire
• Cristina Duarte, Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa, United Nations
• Remy Rioux, CEO, Agence française de développement, France
• Antonella Baldino, Head of International Cooperation and Development Finance, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, Italy
• Alain Ebobissé, CEO, Africa 50
• Désiré Koussawo, President, France Esports
• Imane Ayissi, Fashion Designer
• Ronny Turiaf, NBA Champion, Art Accelerator

Back-to-back to the Forum, a workshop on ‘Sports and Sustainable Development: better knowledge, better policies, better financing and impact’ will discuss the contribution of the sports industry to Africa’s development. Debates will focus on how sports can be a tool for international cooperation.