Special focus will be placed on issues concerning the African youth and women at this year’s Africa 2018 Forum holding in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt on December 8 and 9.
Some of Africa’s most promising companies as well as emerging business leaders will take part in the Young Entrepreneurs Day holding on day one of the forum.
No fewer than 250 startups with strong operational track records and great prospects will be participating in the Young Entrepreneurs Day including pre-event practical workshops with the view of equipping them with the skills to grow their businesses and connect them with potential investors; heads of State from across Africa are also expected to attend the Forum, as Egypt takes over the chairmanship of the African Union in 2019.
This initiative is a follow up to the World Youth Forum held in Egypt last month. A number of measures have been laid out by Egypt’s President Abdelfattah Al Sisi to support youth and entrepreneurs so that they become important economic actors.
Egypt Minister of investment and International Cooperattion, Dr. Sahar Nasr said, “Egypt has a thriving start-up sector, and we are working full force to nurture a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation.” The Ministry has launched number of start-up initiatives, such as Egypt Ventures, Falak Startups, and Fekretak Sherketak, which provide a comprehensive package of support encompassing funding, mentoring, business development services, and accelerator programs. The country has adopted an open-door policy whereby entrepreneurs engage in dialogue with policy makers to overcome regulatory constraints and enable them to unlock their potential for innovation and growth.
“We are globally competitive on all fronts: regulations, access to finance and, of course, a large talent pool of dynamic and vibrant youth,” she added.
Women’s empowerment is also at the centre of this year’s programme. A number of sessions will be devoted to devising ways of bringing about greater participation of women in setting policy and strategy both in government and in business boardrooms.
“We should not forget that we in Africa are taking a lead in many respects, with a higher representation of women in cabinets and parliaments than in most countries around the world – including our own Director General at COMESA,” says Heba Salama, CEO of COMESA’s Regional Investment Agency, co-organisers of the Forum.
COMESA is Africa’s largest trading block and has played a prominent role in driving the African Continental Free Trade Agreement that was signed earlier this year.
The Forum is one of Africa biggest gatherings of business and government leaders. Captains of industry, including Abdulsamad Rabiu, Chairman of BUA group in Nigeria, Issad Rebrab, Algeria’s biggest industrialist and Ylias Akbaraly, Francophone Africa’s most successful businessman will share a roundtable with the Heads of State attending the Forum. Their focus will be on driving greater intra-African investment.
