All eyes are on our Africa

The continent bears 54 distinct economies that are weighed with challenges and opportunities significant to their economic activities and operating environments; the two most crucial inputs to investment.  These economies have continued to support their nations and the world at large with their invested natural produce resources, skills and labour, but what are some of the untapped investment opportunities in Africa?  

Africa has a global comparative advantage in agriculture, being home to more than half the world’s agriculturally suitable and highly unused land, resources and its vast water resources have hardly been tapped.  60 per cent of the world’s uncultivated land is in Africa, while the continent is only responsible for 10 per cent of the world’s agricultural produce.   Agriculture as an untapped investment opportunity is set to be a major growth driver over the next few years, surpassing mining and metals.  Southeast Asia has become competitive and expensive for doing agribusiness; it’s time for Africa to take advantage of this opportunity.

Countries exploring the advantages of agro-processing include Uganda.  The majority of Uganda’s agricultural products such as tobacco, fish, and coffee are exported in their raw form.  Also exploring the untapped agriculture sector is Ethiopia which is known to have some of the most arable land in the world.  Ethiopia spends more than 25 per cent of its budget on agriculture.  As the backbone of Ethiopia’s economy, the sector represents around 50 per cent of GDP and over 85 per cent of export revenues and employment opportunities.

It is in this background that the first annual 'Invest In Africa' conference and summit will be an historic event, bringing hundreds of international banks, institutions, investors, corporate and institutional leaders, international organisations and professionals together in Cairo in September, this year.

All eyes are on Africa - the geopolitical prize. In the quest for natural resources and strategic foreign relations and now, more than ever, it is time to take advantage of the excellent investment climate throughout the continent. This premier event is under the auspices of the President of Egypt, Abd El-Fattah El-Sisi, and it is sponsored by BPW Emirate Investment Egypt and The Arab African Council on Socioeconomic Development.

The conference and project exhibitors summit 2017 are hosting stakeholders from 54 countries; it offers the chance to interact with decision makers on both sides of the commercial and geopolitical coin. The event offers unprecedented access to opportunities and networking with decision makers from across the African continent, for three days and nights at the high security Gala Theater Complex in Cairo from Sept 23-25.

During the event, delegates will experience excellent opportunities to meet regional government representatives and leaders as well as key stakeholders and project representatives who will exhibit and showcase government programmes and projects. The private sector companies will participate and learn how to best take advantage of Africa's enormous investment and banking potential.

More than 1,000 participants from 54 countries are expected to attend this first annual international investment conference on Africa.