Casablanca, Morocco, 25th February 2016 – Over 1,500 African business leaders are gathered at the 4thInternational African Development Forum in Casablanca, taking place on the 24th and 25th of February, 2016. Organised by the Attijariwafa bank and Maroc Export since 2010, this year’s forum, is being held in collaboration with the Moroccan Government institution, Maroc Export with focus on ‘Agriculture and Electrification: Harnessing Energies’.
The event, which is hosting top business executives, ministers, CEOs of leading financial institutions, policy makers and private sector investors will highlight the importance of collaboration in increasing trade and investment opportunities in the areas of power and agriculture to accelerate and sustain the development pace of the African continent.
Tony Elumelu, CON, Chairman, Heirs Holdings, UBA Plc and Transcorp Plc, will be delivering a speech at the opening plenary which will centre on discussions around the importance of intra-African trade and investments, regional integration and the role of private and public sector collaboration in the sustainable development of Africa.
Elumelu’s Transcorp Plc owns investments in successful agriculture, hospitality and power subsidiaries in Nigeria. His philosophy of Africapitalism proposes that the African private sector has the power to transform Africa through long-term investments, creating both economic prosperity and social wealth; a belief that he has backed by launching the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme — a 10-year, $100 million commitment to empower the next generation of African entrepreneurs, generate $10 billion in annual revenue and create at least one million jobs across Africa.
Also expected at the event are Mr. Mohamed El Kettani, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Attijariwafa Bank group, host of the forum; Mrs. Zahra Maafiri, Managing Director, Maroc Export and co host; Mr. Moulay Hafid Elalamy, Minister of Industry, Commerce, Investment and Digital Economy Technologies (Morocco); Mr. Aziz Akhannouch, Minister of Agriculture and Marine Fisheries (Morocco); Mr. Guy Bertrand Mapangou and Minister of Energy and Water Resources (Gabon)
It is expected that this forum will outline a roadmap for Africa’s investment, economic and business opportunities, as well as position the continent to attract long-term, viable investments in two of Africa’s most critical sectors – power and agricultural sectors.
