"I commend the leadership, passion, dynamism, and commitment of His Majesty King Mohammed VI in promoting private sector investments in Africa," stated Akinwumi Adesina during the opening of the 5th edition of the Africa Investment Forum (AIF).
For the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Morocco serves as an exemplary model for attracting private investments in Africa. Akinwumi Adesina reiterated his appreciation for Morocco during the opening session of the forum, currently taking place in Rabat, highlighting HM King Mohammed VI's leadership and personal dedication to positioning Africa prominently on the global stage.
On a different note, Adesina emphasized the need for programs that facilitate the mobilization of private capital to accelerate the continent's development. He noted that such initiatives would enable the efficient allocation of available funds to capitalize on Africa's vast opportunities.
He further stressed that Africa’s transformations must center on its people, focusing on enhancing financial inclusion while fostering a collective dynamic to facilitate and strengthen investments across the continent.
Africa represents a "unique investment opportunity," with its population expected to double by 2050 to 2.4 billion people. The continent also has a projected housing demand of €1.4 billion and annual infrastructure investment opportunities worth $170 billion, noted the AfDB President.
Citing a study conducted among asset managers, Adesina pointed out that 85% of respondents anticipate increased allocations to private capital, while 52% believe African private equity will become more attractive.
Held under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the forum's opening session was attended by HM the King's Advisor and honorary AfDB President Omar Kabbaj, along with the Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah.
The AIF 2024, under the theme "Harnessing Innovative Partnerships to Scale Up," positions itself as an essential platform, paving the way for strategic investments to drive Africa's economic transformation and providing direct access to transaction opportunities across the continent.
