Libreville, Thursday November 16, 2023 (Infos Gabon) – More than 1,000 financial leaders, policy makers and regulators are gathered in Lomé, Togo as part of a summit organized by Jeune Afrique Media Group, in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), an entity of the World Bank Group. This meeting is marked by the participation of twenty ministers of Economy and Finance, central bank governors, vice-governors and regulatory authorities. In-depth discussions are organized around a multitude of themes. The entire press release from the AFRICA FINANCIAL INDUSTRY SUMMIT-AFIS.
Lomé, November 15, 2023 –
Since its creation in 2021, AFIS has evolved into a strategic platform for public-private dialogue aimed at transforming the African financial landscape. This edition, focused on the theme “BUILDING A WORLD-CLASS AFRICAN FINANCIAL INDUSTRY: A $1.5 TRILLION OPPORTUNITY”, brings together leaders from the public and private sectors for a sovereign African financial industry, around four major challenges: attracting African institutional investments to local capital markets, ensuring the free movement of capital and regulatory harmonization, promoting the talents essential for digital transformation, and innovation, particularly in areas such as climate finance and tokenization.
In an unstable global economic context, where Africa faces inflation, rising interest rates, tensions on global markets and the withdrawal of major global banks and insurers, AFIS 2023 positions itself as a catalyst for the continent’s economic recovery by helping to develop actions essential to inclusive, robust and reliable finance.
THEY SAID :
“The theme of crises gives way to that of opportunities. The economic dynamism in West Africa should leave us optimistic. The entire sub-Saharan Africa is on the path to recovery. In the longer term, the AfCFTA will be able to anchor this recovery over time.” “We cannot regain control of the African narrative without concerted action. Africa must collectively regain control of its narrative,” declared His Excellency Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBÉ, President of the Togolese Republic.
“The financial sector plays an absolutely essential role in supporting the emergence of an inclusive and connected Africa, as well as the continent’s energy transition.” “The fate of the AfCFTA does not depend solely on the public sector. The private sector, and particularly that of finance, plays a determining role.” “If the challenges are numerous, the opportunities are just as numerous. The financial industry has a vital role to play in helping this continent seize these opportunities,” added Sérgio PIMENTA, IFC vice president for Africa.
“Our firm conviction is that we must take advantage of the situation rather than wait for the storm to pass, because Africa is the new frontier.” “Faced with multiple crises and to meet the challenges facing the finance sector, AFIS positions itself alongside sector players as a catalyst for our common ambitions,” said Ramatoulaye GOUDIABY, Director of AFRICA FINANCIAL INDUSTRY SUMMIT – AFIS.
Over two days, more than thirty conferences, workshops and round tables will offer leaders the opportunity to actively contribute to Africa’s economic recovery, positioning AFIS as the essential place for dialogue between public sector actors. (ministers of the Economy and Finance, central bankers, regulators) and private (leaders of the main financial institutions, bankers, insurers, fintechs and mobile money operators, capital markets.)
Illustrious personalities are participating in these high-level exchanges, including: Sérgio Pimenta (Vice-President Africa of the IFC), Jean-Claude Kassi Brou (Governor of the BCEAO), HE Mamo Esmelealem Mihretu (Governor of the Central Bank of Ethiopia), Manuel António Tiago Dias (Governor of the Central Bank of Angola), Sani Yaya (Minister of Economy and Finance of Togo), Herbert Wigwe (Access Bank), Serge Ekué (BOAD), Jeremy Awori (Ecobank), Ugas Sheikh-Mohamed (Capital Markets Authority – Kenya), Delphine Traoré (SanlamAllianz), Patty Karuaihe-Martin (NamibRe), Jules Ngankam (African Guarantee Fund), Abiola Bawuah (UBA), Felix Edoh Kossi Aménounvé (BRVM) ), Serigne Dioum (MTN) and Idrissa Nassa (Coris Bank); as well as many other decision-makers from across Africa and around the world.
About the AFRICA FINANCIAL INDUSTRY SUMMIT- AFIS
Founded by Jeune Afrique Media Group in 2021, with the support of the IFC (World Bank Group), AFIS is a sister organization of the AFRICA CEO FORUM, the leading African private sector platform. AFIS’ objective is to build a robust financial industry serving the real economy and sustainable development. Bringing together the most influential figures and institutions in African finance, as well as regulators, AFIS works to improve financial inclusion and the emergence of a truly pan-African financial services industry. Find our program and our AFIS 2023 speakers: Annual Summit – Afis.
About IFC
The IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the world’s largest private sector-focused development institution in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2023, IFC committed a record $43.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to put end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity, as economies grapple with the impacts of deepening global crises. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
FIN/INFOSGABON/SM/2023
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