Thematic Lunch: Investing in Africa

Africa's historical yields will no longer be competitive in many crops resulting in high importation bills governments can't afford, increased food inflation, and exacerbated poverty and food insecurity. One root issue in many cases is the inefficiencies inherent in small scale farming. Climate change will further compound these production risks. How are African food and agribusinesses preparing to remain globally competitive? How are firms successfully serving domestic markets in light of increasing currency risk and opportunity cost of focusing on exports?

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High interest rate, climate change, debt crisis and geopolitics - African economies are subjected to many complexities in raising capital. We will delve into the strategies for harnessing the power of local capital while attracting foreign investment in a world marked by shifting dynamics. Participants will gain insights into investor engagement, collaboration, regulatory support, and risk management. This session will provide a forward-looking perspective on how African economies can thrive amidst the ever-evolving challenges and opportunities of the complex global landscape. 

In the realm of Africa's mobile money evolution spanning the last seventeen years, telecom companies initially took the lead, steering growth and diversification. Yet, the narrative is shifting with the rise of fintech startups, who are evolving beyond mobile money infrastructure to value-add services like credit, insurance, savings, and connectivity across global borders. This transition has left telecom companies struggling to keep pace, raising questions about the sustainability of their traditional business models. The pivotal query revolves around whether the market's tilt toward these incremental financial services will challenge the established order. Fintech startups, considered catalysts for this transformation, are nudging telecom companies to revamp their mobile money operations into more agile fintech entities.