The Africa CEO Forum 2015 was launched in Geneva with over 800 participants from 63 countries in attendance, setting a new record. The two-day conference provided a platform for African business leaders and experts to discuss economic opportunities and challenges on the continent, including recent economic difficulties and the potential of digital transformation. Speakers emphasized Africa's continued economic growth and dynamic private sector as reasons for optimism, despite global headwinds.

1.
PRESS
RELEASE
AFRICA
CEO
FORUM
2015:
AFRICAN
BUSINESS
LEADERS
TURN
OUT
IN
FORCE
Geneva,
16
March
2015
–
The
AFRICA
CEO
FORUM
2015,
the
key
event
for
the
African
private
sector,
taking
place
in
Geneva
from
16
to
17
March
2015,
was
officially
launched
at
the
end
of
a
first
day
rich
in
meetings
and
debate.
This
year,
on
the
occasion
of
its
inauguration,
the
third
edition
of
the
AFRICA
CEO
FORUM,
organized
by
the
Jeune
Afrique
group,
in
partnership
with
the
African
Development
Bank
(AfDB),
and
Rainbow
Unlimited,
welcomed
more
than
800
participants,
speakers
and
journalists
from
over
63
countries.
A
record
attendance
that
guarantees
the
success
of
the
AFRICA
CEO
FORUM
whose
key
objective
is
to
put
the
spotlight
on
African
capitalism
and
encourage
meetings
and
debate
in
anticipation
of
the
change
that
is
sweeping
the
continent
and
also
to
seize
the
opportunities
it
is
creating
for
African
businesses.
The
opening
ceremony,
chaired
by
Donald
Kaberuka,
President
of
the
African
Development
Bank
and
Amir
Ben
Yahmed,
Director
General
of
the
Groupe
Jeune
Afrique
and
President
of
AFRICA
CEO
FORUM,
was
the
opportunity
to
comment
on
the
recent
economic
difficulties
experienced
in
Africa:
“Recent
months
have
been
marked
by
new
health,
security
and
economic
challenges
and
a
drop
in
the
price
of
raw
materials.
But
in
spite
of
this,
a
dynamic
is
well
underway
with
growth
rates
of
4%
to
7%,
or
even
8%
and
over
in
some
countries.
It
is
important
to
assess
the
impact
of
this
situation
on
African
businesses,
even
if
there
is
evidence
that
a
milestone
has
been
reached”
declared
Amir
Ben
Yahmed.
“The
period
of
prosperity
is
over
for
most
of
Africa.
We
realize
that
untoward
winds
are
blowing
on
the
world
economy
but
to
be
quite
frank,
I
am
as
optimistic
today
as
I
was
yesterday
and
will
be
tomorrow”
said
Donald
Kaberuka
bringing
the
opening
ceremony
to
a
close.
A
FIRST
DAY
RICH
IN
DEBATE
AND
REFLECTION
This
first
day
of
the
AFRICA
CEO
FORUM
was
marked
by
the
intervention
of
high-­‐profile
speakers
such
as
the
American
economist
Jeremy
Rifkin,
Issad
Rebrab,
CEO
of
Cevital,
or
Carlos
Lopes,

2.
Executive
Secretary
for
the
United
Nations
Economic
Commission
for
Africa
(UNECA).
Experts
and
attendees
discussed
growth
paths
for
the
African
economy
over
the
next
five
years,
digital
transition
at
the
heart
of
business
expansion,
the
profitability
of
African
economic
growth…
Jeremy
Rifkin
noted
that
“Africa
is
about
to
enter
into
a
promising
new
economic
era.
Even
though
the
stakes
and
challenges
are
many,
the
benefits
linked
to
the
creation
of
a
Digital
Africa
constitute
a
real
and
significant
potential
for
transformation”.
Through
its
rich
and
substantive
program,
designed
around
original
and
particularly
innovating
meeting
formats
-­‐
panels
(economic
growth,
strategy),
and
various
sectorial
round
tables
–
the
AFRICA
CEO
FORUM
2015
has
reaffirmed
its
position
as
the
key
annual
event
for
African
CEOs.
Amir
Ben
Yahmed
concluded:
“Today,
our
mission
is
to
highlight
the
success
of
the
African
private
sector
to
inspire
entrepreneurship
among
younger
generations
and
the
leaders
of
tomorrow”.
For
further
information
on
the
program.
Follow
us
on
social
media:
-­‐
Twitter:
@africaceoforum
#ACF2015
-­‐
LinkedIn:
The
Africa
CEO
Forum
group
Contact
us:
informations@theafricaceoforum.com
On
its
creation
in
2012,
the
AFRICA
CEO
FORUM
established
itself
as
the
key
international
event
focusing
on
development
stakes
for
the
African
private
sector.
In
a
business-­‐friendly
environment,
the
2014
edition
brought
together
over
700
key
figures,
including
500
business
leaders
from
38
African
countries,
promoting
the
private
sector
as
the
driving
force
at
the
heart
of
African
economic
growth.
This
year,
800
business,
banking
and
financial
leaders
and
key
decision
makers
are
expected
in
Geneva
for
the
third
gathering
of
the
African
private
sector.