Billed as the "Davos of Africa”, the agenda for the meeting will focus on building capacity for success. Under the working theme "Raising the Bar", the gathering of representatives from governments, business, international organisations and civil society will focus on leveraging Africa's increasingly strategic role in the global arena. It will feature innovative partnerships to sustain growth, address human and infrastructure capacity constraints, and assess opportunities for an improved African investment climate.
“Buoyed by strong growth, and on the back of booming commodity prices, improved governance and strong Asian interest, Africa is making its move ... business has much to gain by dedicating skills, technology and resources to ensure the new growth is sustained, and recent African successes are replicated,” said Haiko Alfeld, Director and Head of Africa at the World Economic Forum.
Top political leaders who have already confirmed their participation are: Joseph Kabila, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo; Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa; Levy Mwanawasa, President of Zambia; Bingu Wa Mutharika, President of Malawi; and Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal.
Other prominent figures who will participate are: Kofi Annan, ex-UN Secretary-General, now deeply engaged in African-led development and governance initiatives on the continent; and Donald Kaberuka, President, African Development Bank, Tunis.
The co-Chairs of the meeting are: Cynthia Carroll, Chief Executive, Anglo American, United Kingdom; Li Ruogu, Chairman and President, Export-Import Bank of China, People's Republic of China; Tokyo Sexwale, Executive Chairman, Mvelaphanda Holdings, South Africa; and Malvinder M. Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Ranbaxy Laboratories, India.
As part of the spirit of openness generated by the new Web 2.0 technologies, this year, for the first time ever, everyone is invited to have a say in a conversation about Africa with world leaders at the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town. Contribute to this conversation between the leaders of the continent and concerned global citizens at http://www.forumblog.org/africaconversation/
For more information on the World Economic on Africa, visit: http://www.weforum.org/africa.
