Kagame in Addis for WEF meeting

President Paul Kagame arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, yesterday, for the 22nd World Economic Forum (WEF). The three-day high-powered meeting is being held in the Ethiopian capital for the first time. Several African Heads of State and government, public figures and captains of industry are expected to attend and participate in discussions on how to improve Africa’s potential as the emerging global economic power. The Forum is being held under the theme, Shaping Africa’s Transformation, and is expected to address three priority areas: Strengthening Africa’s Leadership, Accelerating Investment in Frontier Markets and Scaling Innovation for Shared Opportunities. President Kagame is expected to attend the opening plenary of the Forum and will, on Friday, participate in an interactive session with 32 young leaders who are members of the WEF Global Shapers Community from 17 African countries.The World Economic Forum is an independent international organisation committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society in shaping global, regional and industry agendas. The world’s top business leaders and politicians gather each year in Davos, Switzerland, to size up the challenges facing the global economy.The defining moment from the Davos Forum in January this year was the sight of Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, holding up an expensive-looking, designer leather bag and saying: “I am here with my little bag to collect a bit of money.” She was seeking funding from the corporate world for projects in the developing world.WEF brings under one roof some of the biggest names in the corporate world, top economists and world leaders.President Kagame will also participate in the closing session of the ongoing Grow Africa Investment Forum alongside his host, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete. Rwanda is among the first group of countries involved in the agricultural initiative that also includes Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Ghana, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso. The Grow Africa Investment Forum seeks to forge new partnerships, investment commitments, and share expertise among participating countries to improve the continent’s food security, environmental sustainability and economic opportunity. The forum is jointly organised by the African Union Commission, the World Economic Forum and the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency.It seeks to build the continent’s strategy to boost agricultural productivity and introduces change in agriculture, based on national priorities. It also aims to raise awareness among domestic, regional and international investors about the attractiveness of Africa’s agri-business sector, create investor interest in the priority agri-business value chains and stimulate investment opportunities in each country’s selected value chainsGrow Africa was established to accelerate investments in the continent’s agriculture, and ensure that they deliver on their promise of sustainable and inclusive growth. More than 200 high-level global, regional and national business leaders, governments, international organisations, civil society and farmers’ associations are expected to attend.

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Kagame in Addis for WEF meeting