The Africa CEO Forum 2014 kicked off yesterday in Geneva, Switzerland, as a platform to reignite entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity on the continent.  

Rwanda Development Board CEO Valentine Rugwabiza is among 680 chief executives from more than 38 countries attending the three-day meeting, organised by Groupe Jeune Afrique and Africa Development Bank.

Rugwabiza told the gathering that for the private sector to play its rightful role, small and medium enterprises must be given priority and freedom to exercise their duties. 

"Africa is at a stage where the public sector provides the most investment. It is critical for government to get it right if we want to see the emergence of a dynamic business sector,” she said. 

The forum was lauded by speakers as a strong platform that brought together key economic actors to strengthen regional ties, and to promote public-private dialogue on building an environment conducive to new business development.

"The year 2013 was marked by a new 16 per cent progress of foreign direct investments. The International Monetary Fund is forecasting a global growth of 6.5 per cent for 2014. I have lost count of the number of Africa CEOs who are now part of the international rankings of the economic press,” Amir Ben Yahmed, Managing Director, Groupe Jeune Afrique, said.