The fifth edition of the Africa CEO Forum is currently taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, gathering more than 1,000 personalities and key decision makers in industry, finance, and politics from the African continent and around the globe. The conference also offers a unique platform for facilitating thought-provoking and forward-thinking discussions, as well as unique opportunities for business development, strategy refinement and improving the overall competitiveness of African businesses.

At the 2017 Africa CEO Forum Awards, which took place yesterday, 20th March 2017 at InterContinental Geneva, Mohammed Dewji, Group CEO of MeTL (Mohammed Entreprise Tanzania Limited) was named the CEO of the year and Anta Babacar Ngom Bathily of Sedima won the award for Young CEO of the Year.

Mohammed Dewji, who is the third generation of a family of successful Tanzanian entrepreneurs, was in a race with other business heavyweights across the continent to take home one of the biggest awards in Africa’s private sector. In his speech, Mr. Dewji thanked the organisers and jurors saying he was “humbled and honoured for this fantastic recognition,” Mr. Dewji also thanked John Magufuli, Tanzania’s President for his relentless fight against corruption.

Anta Babacar Ngom Bathily was awarded ‘Young CEO of the Year’ for her remarkable leadership skills as Executive Director of Sedima, Senegal’s leading agribusiness group. Created at last year’s Forum, the award recognises a promising young African business leader under the age of 45. Receiving the award, Ms. Ngom Bathily dedicated her award to “all women and young women.” She also dedicated the award to her father, who was present at the ceremony.

Egypt-based Elsewedy Electric received the African Company of the Year award, presented to a representative of the Group CEO Ahmed Elsewedy who said that as an African company, Elsewedy “has an obligation to take part in the development and in bringing the right technology to solve Africa’s challenges”. This award is given to the African company that demonstrated a remarkable expansion on the continent in 2016.

The award for African Bank of the Year went to Morocco’s leading Attijariwafa Bank, ranked Africa’s fourth largest bank with over 7 million clients and more than 16,000 employees in 24 countries. The bank’s CEO Mohamed El Kettani received the prize from Amir Ben Yahmed, Founder and President of the Africa CEO Forum.

The Private Equity Investor of the  Year Award was given to AfricInvest, a Tunisia-based firm dedicated to the international expansion of French SMEs in Africa. The award presentation was conducted by Emna Kharouf, Managing Partner at Deloitte Conseil Tunisie.

German insurer Allianz and Portuguese company Mota-Engil, who together have been operating in Africa for over two decades, were the joint winners of this year’s International Corporation of the Year Award. The award was presented by Michael Rheinnegger, Managing Partner of Rainbow Limited to representatives from both corporations.

Having cemented its status as the foremost meeting dedicated to the development of the African private sector, this year’s theme is “Rethinking Africa’s business model.” The conference offers a unique platform for facilitating thought-provoking and forward-thinking discussions, as well as unique opportunities for business development, strategy refinement and improving the overall competitiveness of African businesses.

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