Africa economic transformation meet opens in Kigali today

How can Africa unlock rapid and sustained growth? Is it possible to establish the continent as part of the global supply chain and make Africa globally competitive not only in terms of exports but also as a frontier manufacturing base? Delegates from across the continent will today and tomorrow gather in Kigali for the inaugural African Transformation Forum (ATF), to deliberate on these and other related matters. The forum will be co-hosted by African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET), one of Africa’s leading think-tanks, and the government. Organisers of the conference say that among the objectives of the conference include facilitating knowledge sharing and peer learning across global and African luminaries from the public and private sectors. “These participants will contribute their rich insights, and uncover challenges and solutions for galvanizing economic transformation in Africa,” a concept note of the forum reads in part. Speaking ahead of the conference, KY Amoako, president of ACET, said that for years, his organisation has had a goal to convene leading thinkers, policy makers, the private sector and civil society to shape solutions to deliver economic transformation in Africa. In a news release ahead of the forum, the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Amb. Claver Gatete, said national and regional aspirations are achievable if ‘unwavering focus’ is given to economic transformation. The conference comes at a time African countries have been called upon to work closely to deepen integration and scale up trade with one another for sustainable development that is less dependent on donor support. The cohesion among African countries, experts say, will go a long way in mobilising resources for research, implementation of regional initiatives and proven policy interventions. The forum will be attended by some of the continent’s leading analysts drawn from various backgrounds. Speakers include Carlos Lopes, executive secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa; Makhtar Diop, World Bank Group vice-president for Africa; Antoinette Sayeh, IMF director for Africa; Nkosana Moyo, founder and executive chair of MINDS; James Mwangi, executive director at Dalberg; and ACET’s own experts – Yaw Ansu, Ed Brown and Joe Amoako-Tuffour, among others. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Africa economic transformation meet opens in Kigali today