The 27th edition of the World Economic Forum on Africa is taking place in Durban, South Africa from the 3rd to 5th of May 2017. Over 1200 participants from over 100 countries representing business, government, academia, civil society, media and the arts are attending this meeting themed “Achieving Inclusive Growth through Responsive and Responsible Leadership.”
According to Maxwell Hall, a member of the Public Engagement Team at the ongoing WEF on Africa, the meeting aims to move leaders to change the way they approach development planning by designing policies that allow everyone to benefit from economic growth.
Who are we expecting at WEF on Africa 2017?
Key participants from Africa
South Africa’s President Jacob G. Zuma, Cyril M. Ramaphosa, Deputy President of South Africa; H.M. King Mswati III, King of Swaziland; Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, President of the Republic of Mauritius; Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of Zambia; Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of Uganda; Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of Mozambique;Macky Sall, President of Senegal; Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini, Prime Minister of Swaziland; Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Prime Minister of Namibia; and Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice-President of Ghana.
Other key participants from Africa include:
Malusi Gigaba, Minister of Finance of South Africa; Sam Kutesa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uganda; Joshua Setipa, Minister of Trade and Industry of Lesotho; Jean Philbert Nsengimana, Minister of Youth and Information and Communication Technology of Rwanda; Siyabonga Cwele, Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services of South Africa; Tokozile Xasa, Minister of Tourism of South Africa; Rob Davies, Minister of Trade and Industry of South Africa; Claver Gatete, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning of Rwanda; Sidumo Dlamini, President, Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU); Edna Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs of South Africa; Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health of South Africa; and Mmamoloko Nkhensani Kubayi, Minister of Energy of South Africa.
Leaders from outside Africa
Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies of Singapore; Wolfgang Schäuble, Federal Minister of Finance of Germany; and Brigitte Zypries, Federal Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy of Germany.
Representatives from International Organizations
Forest Whitaker, UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace; Social Activist, Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative; Mamadou Biteye, Managing Director, Africa Regional Office, Rockefeller Foundation; Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo, President, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD); Ellen Agler, Chief Executive Officer, The END Fund; and Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
The Co-Chairs of the World Economic Forum on Africa
Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director, Oxfam International; Siyabonga Gama, Group Chief Executive Officer, Transnet; Frédéric Lemoine, Chairman of the Executive Board, Wendel; Rich Lesser, Global Chief Executive Officer and President, Boston Consulting Group; and Ulrich Spiesshofer, President and Chief Executive Officer, ABB.
“Africa’s leaders must act fast to build strong, inclusive societies capable of prospering in our rapidly changing world. If we create conditions in which everybody is able to prosper, then the 21st century can truly be Africa’s century. If we fail, the region risks falling further behind,” said Elsie Kanza, Head of Regional Strategies – Africa, and Member of the Executive Committee at the World Economic Forum.
Below are some of the topics to be discussed at the Forum
Participants will explore challenges and opportunities, deepen insights and foster coalitions around instruments that could be used to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth. The meeting will address the following topics Connecting Markets, Revitalising Manufacturing and Integrating Innovation.
