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

The sponsor informational lunch will include a company presentation and the opportunity to connect with some of the company's executives.

‍

With over 50 distinct countries, the African continent presents a kaleidoscope of regulatory environments, political climates, and macroeconomic challenges. From abrupt policy changes to unstable governance – epitomized by the recent wave of coups across West and Central Africa – doing business in Africa requires companies and investors to adapt to shifting sands. This panel delves into the tangible, hands-on approaches to managing political risks in the African context. How do stakeholders assess and prepare for potential political risks in Africa? How can businesses leverage grassroots community relations as a buffer against high-level political volatility? How are insurance models adapting to offer genuine, affordable, and durable protection to businesses and investors? How can dialogue between the public and private sectors remain robust amidst shifting political landscapes?

In a continent that is as rich in opportunities as it is in complexities, managing political risks becomes paramount for business success. This conversation will provide insights on this key topic to discuss the tools and tactics that will pave the way for successful business endeavors, and projects developed on the continent.

‍

There have been several iterations of how to adapt the traditional PE fund for Africa's unique challenges. These include permanent capital vehicles, de novo funds and sovereign wealth funds. Are these iterations performing any better? What are the lessons for traditional PE from these experiments? What other iterations are LPs like DFIs willing to invest in next?