Initiative for Global Development's Frontier 100 Forum to Focus on Strengthening Africa's Private Sector to Spur Innovation, Job Creation and Global Competitiveness
Top International and African
business leaders to meet in Washington, DC for the Frontier 100 Forum from
October 19-21
Given the ever-increasing influence
of African born- and bred- businesses in driving economic growth and prosperity
in Africa, The Initiative for Global Development’s Frontier 100 Forum will
strategize on how to strengthen Africa’s private sector development to spur
innovation, job creation, and global competitiveness on the continent. The
Frontier 100 Forum will be held on October 19-21, in Washington, DC.
The Initiative for Global Development
(IGD) is a U.S.-based organization that engages a network of leading global
business leaders from the U.S., Africa and other regions in creating growth and
alleviating poverty in Africa through strategic, successful business investment.
The Frontier 100 Forum, which begins
on Oct. 20, is an exclusive, invitation-only biannual event that brings
together CEOs and senior executives from the IGD network of U.S., African,
European and South Asian companies who are part of IGD’s Frontier Leader
Network. More than half of IGD Frontier Leaders hail from the African
continent.
Under the theme, “African Business in
the World-Class Space”, the Forum will celebrate the dynamism and importance of
African businesses -- not only on the continent -- but also in the global
marketplace. Today, homegrown African businesses create more than 80 percent of
jobs in their countries. The rapid progress and growth of African companies
reflect the changing business environment in Africa and have ignited a greater
interest in the continent as an investment destination.
“A decade ago, foreign investors
dealt primarily with governments to do business in Africa because there wasn’t
a strong, well-developed African private sector. Today, there’s a thriving
private sector in Africa, enabling investors and global business leaders to do
business directly with African counterparts,” said Dr. Mima Nedelcovych, IGD’s
President & CEO.
“Although impediments still
exist in fostering stronger business environments in Africa, homegrown African
businesses are building some of the fastest-growing companies and are poised to
become a major force for growth on the African continent,” said Nedelcovych.
The Frontier 100 Forum is designed to
encourage business leaders to offer insight, collaborate, and identify bold,
action-oriented strategies to promote growth and poverty alleviation in Africa
from a business perspective. Forum topics will range from strategies to propel
African companies to successfully become world-class companies; changing global
perceptions about doing business in Africa; sparking African innovation; and
corporate social responsibility. The Forum will feature a half-day session on
the tremendous opportunities and perceived risks to investing in Africa.
One day prior to the Forum, IGD will
host on Oct. 19 with the Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa
(PCHPA), a special pre-forum luncheon discussion on “Raising the Bar for
Africa’s Infrastructure Investment: Meeting Current Business Needs & Future
Demand”. The luncheon will highlight perspectives on best practices and lessons
learned on building infrastructure through public-private partnerships from
visiting high-level private sector investors from Latin America, Asia, Europe
and the Middle East. The luncheon will be attended by members of the African
Diplomatic Corps and representatives of Washington-based organizations working
on this issue.
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ABOUT THE INITIATIVE FOR GLOBAL
DEVELOPMENT (IGD)
The Initiative for Global
Development (IGD) is a 501©(3) organization that drives poverty reduction by
catalyzing business growth and investment in the developing world. IGD brings
together an influential Frontier Leader network of CEOs and senior executives
with the interest and capacity to make strategic investments in high-need,
high-potential regions of Africa. Former Secretaries of State Madeleine K.
Albright and General Colin L. Powell are co-chairs of IGC’s Leadership Council.
For more information, visit www.igdleaders.org.
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