Special Address from Patrick Achi

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.

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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

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Financial services have made tremendous progress in Africa, yet access to affordable credit remains a long way away for everyone from consumers to SMEs to governments. This panel seeks to ask the tough questions and understand why the cost of capital in Africa is still so high.