Kigali: In a few weeks, the Africa Investment Forum (AIF), organized by the African Development Bank, will return to Johannesburg, South Africa, for a second edition supported by the determination of development institutions to meet the challenges of financing infrastructure to accelerate the continent's economic transformation. Last year, AIF 2018 showed a willingness to think outside the box when it comes to investments. The Forum provided major lessons on the results that can be expected when multilateral development and financing institutions decide to pool their resources. “When we shared our vision to encourage the flow of capital to Africa, by organizing this first Forum with the objective of closing transactions, many thought that it would amount to drawing plans on the comet. A year later, the verdict is undisputed. Investment opportunities in Africa are quite attractive,” said Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB). The collective will to tackle head-on the annual infrastructure investment gap in Africa, estimated at between 130 and 170 billion US dollars, was fully affirmed during the opening ceremony. “The first edition of the AIF saw an extraordinary level of engagement. The debates moved from a discussion on the investment to the financial closure of certain transactions. The year 2019 will redefine the perception of investors with regard to the African continent”, advances David Makhura, Prime Minister of the South African province of Gauteng, of which Johannesburg is the capital. Heads of key partner institutions include Patrick Dlamini, Managing Director of the Development Bank of Southern Africa; Benedict Oramah, President of the Africa Export-Import Bank; Bandar MH Hajjar, President of the Islamic Development Bank and Admassu Tadesse, President of the Trade and Development Bank. Among the Forum's founding partners are also Alain Ebobisse, Managing Director of Africa50, and Mallam Samaila Zubairu, Managing Director of Africa Finance Corporation. For Alain Ebobisse, the continent is full of opportunities. “The Africa Investment Forum not only brings together investors and stakeholders to engage in discussions around projects, but also helps close deals that would otherwise take months or years. In the field of infrastructure, this is of paramount importance because the financial costs and those related to delays in the execution of projects are high.” Africa's development challenges require a rapid, ambitious and determined response. Of the 20 countries in the world with the least access to electricity, 13 are in Africa. Annual investments of around 43 to 55 billion US dollars are needed until 2030-2040 to meet demand and provide universal access to energy. “The audacity demonstrated last year in South Africa, as well as the results achieved in terms of investments and transactions concluded, will remain etched in the memory of the investment community for a long time,” said President Adesina, adding: “ We aim for new heights. Already, a portfolio of projects and transactions valued at several billion US dollars in the fields of energy, cross-border infrastructure and agriculture will be discussed. The 2018 Africa Investment Forum attracted 1,943 participants, representing 87 countries, and brought together 400 investors from 52 countries. This innovative investment marketplace brings together heads of state and government, project developers, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and other institutional investors. Policy makers, private equity firms and senior ministry officials attend.