ABC is a premier convening of business leaders, policy makers, investors, and entrepreneurs across Africa, presenting a unique platform for insightful debates around the prevailing challenges confronting businesses on the continent and the emerging opportunities therein. ABC is motivated by factors that, when combined, requires a platform such as this for engagement, dialogue, and tracking of Africa progress and prosperity.
The first of these factors is the creation of the AFCFTA. The Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA), established in 2019, with trading under the agreement starting 2021, is the largest trade bloc in the world in terms of number of States and focuses on eliminating trade barriers and boosting intra Africa trade by creating a single Africa market. It serves 55 countries and 8 regional economic communities. ABC is also motivated by the view that Africa is the last frontier of global economic development. Africa is the continent with the largest group of poor people living below the US $1 a day. It is also the continent with the second largest population, now estimated at 1.4 billion, after Asia. Given the huge gaps in development, compared to other regions, Africa’s scope for development and growth remains huge. ABC is designed to support that process of bridging the gaps between Africa and other continents.
Finally, ABC is designed for Business growth and development in Africa. This means that ABC is not just the melting pot for all forms, sizes and aspirations of all African businesses, but designed to support their growth, scale up and development. ABC will do this through providing a platform for capital raising, strategy and knowledge sharing, and networking for the purpose of scale and growth. While many other forums on Africa focuses on the economy, business, leadership etc, ABC will focus on the businesses themselves and the issues and parameters that drive their performance. The underline notion and motivation is simple – it is the recognition that the progress in African economies, including the reduction in poverty and the increase in employment will come from its businesses. When its businesses do well, the economies will do well.
Africa Business Convention continues to have conversations around six thematic areas:
Jobs / Economy / Trade (JET) Stream
The JET stream provides a dedicated platform for the understanding, engagement, policy and tracking of developments that shapes the overall economies of Africa countries.
Agriculture and Food Security (AFS) Stream
AFS seeks to continuously build and develop an ecosystem of agriculture development for food security on the continent and for exports.
Banking, Investments and Capital (BIC) Stream
BIC therefore focuses on the deep understanding of the banking, investment and capital raising landscape in Africa.
Power, Infrastructure and Energy (PIE) Stream
PIE is critical for Africa’s development. The gaps in PIE are the clearest reflection of the difference in growth and prosperity between many African economies and the rest of the world.
Fintech, Innovation and Technology (FIT) Stream
The FIT stream focuses on financial technology companies, businesses and evolving policies, innovation and investments supporting their growth.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Stream
The ESG stream is about business interests in driving environmental sustainability, social cohesion, and good governance on the continent.