IFC in partnership with Africa CEO Forum 2020

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, today announced that it will co-host the AFRICA CEO FORUM 2020, the leading international conference dedicated to supporting private sector-led growth on the continent.

IFC's support for the event—to be held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, on March 9 to 10  next year underscores its increasing commitment to help Africa's governments, businesses, and entrepreneurs overcome challenges, create jobs, increase trade, and drive innovation.  

IFC CEO, Philippe Le Houérou, said, "These are exciting times for Africa as it moves towards a continent-wide free trade area, rapidly adopts mobile technology, and works to address longstanding infrastructure and jobs challenges.

IFC is at the center of discussions on these and other development topics that will help drive economic transformation in the region. The AFRICA CEO FORUM is where some of the most relevant and insightful discussions on Africa's development happen."

The upcoming 8th edition of the AFRICA CEO FORUM will focus on regional integration, infrastructure development, the impact of technological advances, jobs, and other areas relevant to unlocking the continent's economic potential and helping improve lives.

African presidents, vice-presidents, the region's top CEOs, international investors, policy-makers, and young businessmen and women are scheduled to attend and present their unique perspectives on Africa's economic future. The 2019 FORUM, held in Kigali, Rwanda, welcomed 1,800 participants from 70 countries.

Amir Ben Yahmed, President of the AFRICA CEO FORUM, said, "Our ability to mobilize leaders at the highest level makes the AFRICA CEO FORUM the platform of choice for public-private dialogue, which is essential to enable our continent to achieve balanced economic development."

As co-host of the AFRICA CEO FORUM 2020, IFC will use its expertise as the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets to inform discussions on a range of development topics.

Accordingly, IFC has co-hosted the FORUM since 2018. Also, since 2018, the FORUM has hosted the Women in Business Annual Leadership Meeting, devoted to women business leaders. In 2019, the Forum launched the Africa CEO Network, which brings together business leaders in Africa.

Founded in 2012, the AFRICA CEO FORUM is an annual gathering of decision-makers from the largest African companies, as well as international investors, multinational executives, heads of state, ministers, and representatives of the main financial institutions operating on the continent.

As a platform for high-level business meetings and a place to share experiences and identify trends that affect the business world, the AFRICA CEO FORUM is committed to offering concrete and innovative solutions to help the continent and its companies move forward.

Through its "Women in Business" and "Family Business" initiatives, it also aims to increase the representation of women in decision-making positions on the continent and to support the transformation of African family businesses.