Keynotes
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Friday
|
4:50 pm
Klarman Hall
Diverse

One Africa, One Market - Repositioning Africa as the Largest Free Trade Area

According to the World Bank, The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) is poised to make Africa the largest trade area/zone in terms of market size, creating a market of 1.3 billion people across 55 countries and a combined GDP of approx. $3.4 Trillion. Many have posited it as a game change-changer with the potential to transform African economies and significantly raise Africa’s share of global trade and investment flows and shift the direction and composition of FDI to Africa, positioning the region as an increasingly dynamic force in the international arena. How can Africa leverage the AfCFTA to enhance its global competitiveness and compete in the new global era?

Come hear industry stalwarts take center stage to unravel the intricacies of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). Against the backdrop of this historic agreement, the keynote will explore strategic visions, challenges, and opportunities presented by the AfCFTA as well as delve into the private sector's role in innovation, infrastructure development, and the imperative of collaborative efforts in repositioning Africa on the global economic stage.

One Africa, One Market - Repositioning Africa as the Largest Free Trade Area

According to the World Bank, The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) is poised to make Africa the largest trade area/zone in terms of market size, creating a market of 1.3 billion people across 55 countries and a combined GDP of approx. $3.4 Trillion. Many have posited it as a game change-changer with the potential to transform African economies and significantly raise Africa’s share of global trade and investment flows and shift the direction and composition of FDI to Africa, positioning the region as an increasingly dynamic force in the international arena. How can Africa leverage the AfCFTA to enhance its global competitiveness and compete in the new global era?

Come hear industry stalwarts take center stage to unravel the intricacies of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). Against the backdrop of this historic agreement, the keynote will explore strategic visions, challenges, and opportunities presented by the AfCFTA as well as delve into the private sector's role in innovation, infrastructure development, and the imperative of collaborative efforts in repositioning Africa on the global economic stage.

America/New_York
Feb 16, 2024 4:50 PM
Klarman Hall

Other Sessions

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Keynotes
Saturday
|
9:05 am
Klarman Hall
Building Africa’s Digital Infrastructure to Spur the Next Decade of Innovation
Bridging Africa's digital divide and navigating its impact on African innovation
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Building Africa’s Digital Infrastructure to Spur the Next Decade of Innovation

Africa is in the midst of a digital revolution: approximately 473 million Africans are online, and an additional 300 million will likely join them by 2025. Average download speeds in Africa doubled between 2015 and 2019, while data costs halved. Underpinning this growth is the installation of digital infrastructure (fiber optics, data centers, and more) -  Africa has witnessed notable strides in digital infrastructure development, with increased investments in 4G and 5G technology. In an era where digital connectivity has become the linchpin of economic progress, what will it take for Africa to compete in the global digital economy? 

In this keynote panel, we will hear from the folks building that infrastructure and deploying. The session will share insights into bridging Africa's digital divide, navigating the impact of these technological advancements on the continent's innovation landscape, as well as delve into discussions on financing structures, inclusivity in access, digital economic transformation, and the pivotal role of government policies.

America/New_York
Feb 17, 2024 9:05 AM
Klarman Hall
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Breakout 1
Saturday
|
10:15 am
Aldrich 112
Navigating Global Fashion Markets with African Identity
How can African brands build sustainable business models that enable their products to be accessible to local and global clientele?
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Navigating Global Fashion Markets with African Identity

The past few years has seen a renewed focus on African arts on the global stage: Afrobeats, Nollywood on global streaming platforms, African fashion being shown at various global fashion weeks and carried by global retailers. How can African brands leverage this momentum to build sustainable (economically and ethically) business models that enable their products to be accessible to local and global clientele and withstand the test of time? What are the opportunities to innovate across the value chain and what unique competitive advantages do we have on the continent? This panel will dive into these questions through the lens of various ecosystem stakeholders - designers, retailers, investors, manufacturers - at the forefront of innovating African fashion and bringing it to the global stage

America/New_York
Feb 17, 2024 10:15 AM
Aldrich 112
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Specials
Saturday
|
10:15 am
Batten Hives 301
Building a Venture in Africa
How to move from idea to venture
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Building a Venture in Africa

Venture building is a comprehensive and systematic approach to creating, developing, and scaling new businesses or startups. Our workshop is focused on sharing expert knowledge on building VC backable businesses on the African continent. We will showcase how we turn ideas into successful ventures by sharing our tips, tools, and methodologies. Our workshop will provide an overview of the fundamentals of venture building and also demonstrate one of our ideation techniques in action.

America/New_York
Feb 17, 2024 10:15 AM
Batten Hives 301