The European Investment Bank has invited the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to co-host the Africa Day 2018, which will take place on 22 November 2018 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
EIB established the Africa Day as an effective and progressive platform for discussion across Africa and Europe. This year’s event will examine why inclusive and sustainable industrial development, which is at the core of UNIDO’s mandate, is increasingly topping the policy and business agenda in African countries. Africa Day 2018 will thus be a platform for sharing, discussing, networking and forging new partnerships while deepening existing ones to ultimately positively impact Africa through its sustainable industrialization.
High-level speakers from Africa and Europe will be joining to share their experiences of doing business in Africa, and to talk about where they see opportunities and challenges for inclusive growth and diversification. Other topics that will be addressed include:
- How can industrial sectors across Africa be made more appealing for European and African companies?
- Where are the opportunities to mobilize private investment for inclusive and sustainable industrial development?
- How can the benefits of sustainable industrialization be maximized for two traditionally underserved groups: young entrepreneurs and women, whose inputs and involvement will be crucial?
Africa Day 2018 will further reflect on key milestones agreed by the international community in favor of the continent’s industrialization, including the 2030 Agenda for Development, the Global Goals and especially Sustainable Development Goal 9 on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA III). Indeed, manufacturing is expected to boom in Africa and will, therefore, create millions of direct and indirect jobs; it is therefore of real importance for the continent’s future, and for the millions of ambitious young men and women in Africa who are seeking jobs and opportunities.
Africa Day 2018 is open to CEOs and CFOs from African and European businesses as well as to government representatives, entrepreneurs, academia and civil society leaders. Participation is upon invitation only.
Original source: UNIDO
Published on 25 July 2018
