PRESS KIT - NOVEMBER 2019 PRESS KIT CHOISEUL Business AFRICA Forum Nice October 3rd and 4th, 2019 With the support of Republic of The Ivory Coast #ChoiseulAfricaForum #Choiseul100Africa 1 SOCIETE GENERALE Brand Block 2L R0-G0-B0 HEXA #000000 File: 18J2953E R233-G4-B30 Date : 23/10/2018 HEXA #E9041E AC/DC validation : Client validation : PRESSPRESS KIT KIT - NOVEMBER - NOVEMBER 2019 2019 CHOISEUL AFRICA BUSINESS FORUM The most important European event dedicated to Africa was held in Nice on the 3rd and 4th of last October. The first edition of the Choiseul Africa Business Forum, the annual meeting dedicated to business opportunities in Africa and with Africa, was held in Nice in early October. Organized by the Institut Choiseul in collaboration with the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, the City of Nice and several first-order institutional and economic partners, this platform brought together in an interactive manner some 585 African and European leaders that count among the most influent of both continents. Coming from over 50 countries, they were able to attend some twenty working sessions focusing on key issues that drive African growth. A word from the President: Ambition, audacity, excellence. Now more than ever, these words preside over the actions of the African and European leaders that the Institut Choiseul has gathered together for the first edition of theChoiseul Africa Business Forum. Friendship between Africa and Europe was forged by their past and their brotherhood will be realized by their future, thanks to this cultural proximity from which we are yet to make the most of, and to the synergies that we are yet to jointly develop. That is the ambition of this great forum! The Institut Choiseul is honoured to have contributed to this bridge across the Mediterranean in the wonderful City of Nice, a contact point between these two great lands of opportunity that has become, for the time of an event, the economic capital of Afro-European dialogue. Our ambition is to take This event was the extension of the Institut’s activity “advantage of synergies and in favour of new forms of economic cooperation with of insufficiently exploited Africa and of the showcasing, through the Choiseul historical, geographical 100 Africa, of its most talented young leaders. and cultural proximity in Our futures are inextricably intertwined and will continue to be written at the next edition of the order to create a catalyst Choiseul Africa Business Forum. I would like to thank of the African business all our friends and participants, builders of this new environment and to explore era of exchange that lies ahead, who were with us “ during this first edition. new areas of partnerships to the benefit of a collec- Pascal Lorot tive growth. President of the Institut Choiseul 2 PRESS KIT - NOVEMBER 2019 Summary Why the Choiseul Africa Business Forum? ............................................................... p°4 History ............................................................................................................................. p°5 Key information ............................................................................................................ p°6 Programme ..................................................................................................................... p°7 Photo gallery ................................................................................................................ p°16 Contact information .................................................................................................... p°19 3 PRESS KIT - NOVEMBER 2019 Why the Choiseul Africa Business Forum? Promoting exchanges in favour of the development of the African continent The Choiseul Africa Business Forum offers keys to understanding the sectors that drive African growth. In a context of deep transformation of a global order influenced by the rise of new stakeholders, theChoiseul Africa Business Forum brings together African and European leaders that count among the most influent in order to take advantage of insufficiently exploited synergies and to explore new areas of partnerships to the benefit of a collective growth. The forum enables us to explore the different opportunities arising from cooperation between the private, public and institutional spheres and gives the floor to key players in the African economy, carefully chosen for their role in the rise of the continent. Inviting a variety of profiles reflecting every aspect of the African business world By bringing together executives, heads of state and ministers, international funders, representatives of major interna- tional financial institutions, this forum gave a synoptic view of investment trends at work in Africa featuring key fi- gures in this field. Exploring a wide range of topics to highlight all of the value-creation fields in Africa An event dedicated to reciprocal and enriching exchanges, this forum aims at facilitating business contacts in the economic sectors at the heart of growth issues in Africa. Providing unique content quality to offer a new platform to African leadership The contents of different sessions were conscientiously studied by our experts to select those best able to federate and contribute to the emergence of new business opportunities in Africa and with Africa. Bringing together high-level leaders in a club spirit for efficient networking Six years after its inception, the Choiseul Africa network brings together over 350 leaders that count among the most strategic and talented of their generation. By their side were invited economic leaders among the most influent from both continents. Celebrating women’s leadership in Africa Women are the lever that will allow the African continent to unleash all of its economic potential. These have been showcased during this first edition. Hailing from different regions and business areas, they all embody the same goal: succeeding as strong women leaders. Whether they are at the head of businesses or public institutions, they are the symbol of an Africa that is reshuffling the cards on the global stage. Choiseul 100 Africa This event was also the opportunity to release the sixth edition of the Choiseul 100 Africa – The Economic Leaders of Tomorrow ranking, which identifies the most promising African leaders of their generation that play or will be called upon to play a key role in the economic development of the African continent. At the head of thriving companies, successful entrepreneurs, investors or leading innovative projects, they embody all of the dynamism and revival of the continent and carry with them the hopes of an entire generation. Kabiru Rabiu (Nigeria), Managing Director of Bua Group, is n°1 of the 2019 edition of the Choiseul 100 Africa ranking. 4 PRESS KIT - NOVEMBER 2019 History The Institut Choiseul is an independent think-tank dedicated to the analysis of contemporary economic, political and societal issues as well as those associated with the challenges of global governance. Based in Paris, its ambition is to create independent dialogue spaces at the crossroads of the political and institutional world, of the economic scene and the sphere of ideas, in order to enhance debates on today’s key problematics. The Institut Choiseul has published since 2013 the Choiseul 100 – The Economic Leaders for Tomorrow, which identifies and ranks the leaders 40 years old and below that shape the French economy. Following the same model and backed by its strong expertise in the realm of talents, the Institut Choiseul launched in 2014 the Choiseul 100 Africa. More than a simple ranking, Choiseul Africa is a unique community gathering young economics leaders among the most talented of their generation. Women and men who, considering their commitment and expertise, think outside the box to invent the Africa of tomorrow. Six years after its creation, the Choiseul Africa community currently brings together more than 350 economic decision- makers among the most strategic of the African continent. In order to promote this first excellence network at the African level and to create more links between each of them, we structured the Choiseul Africa network in 9 regional chapters, covering more than 45 countries. This network has become a real community of talents who have become essential on the African economic stage and beyond. Sharing the same Choiseul spirit, members of Choiseul Africa regularly meet in Africa and Europe in an exclusive club mode. They also interact with members of Choiseul France, now considered as one of the most influent economic networks in France. The first edition of theChoiseul Africa Business Forum marks a new stage in the dynamic of the Institut Choiseul, in favour of the moving Africa and is open to any person willing to play a role in the future of Africa. 5 PRESS KIT - NOVEMBER 2019 Key information Fifty countries represented The Choiseul Africa Business Forum brought together 585 leaders, coming from over 50 countries and nationalities, both francophone and anglophone. The Ivory Coast in the spotlight Led by Mr. Esmel Emmanuel Essis, Secretary of State of the Ivory Coast in charge of the Promotion of Private Investment, a delegation of some 30 economic and political Ivorian leaders attended the event. Twenty topics featuring key players Women’s leadership, energy, foundations in Africa, education and digital opportunities are among the twenty topics that were discussed during this first edition. It was the opportunity for numerous experts on these subjects