Three African Heads of State, 2,000 delegates from 109 countries, project promoters and investors have been taking part, since Monday, November 11, 2019, in the 2nd edition of the Africa Investment Forum (AIF) in Johannesburg, South Africa. South. Organized by the African Development Bank and its partners, this African investment meeting aims to mobilize capital, advance projects and accelerate the financial closing of transactions. Around 67 billion dollars worth of investment agreements should be signed during this edition.

“We are here to see the deals that change things and not just to listen to speeches,” warned David Makhura, Premier of Gauteng Province during his welcome address. For David Makhura, the AIF allows Africa to take action. This is why he invited investors and decision-makers to invest in education, training and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises. "Africa is endowed with many natural resources, but its greatest resource is its people," said David Makhura.

For his part, the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina welcomed the presence of Heads of State, Cyril Ramaphosa, Paul Kagame and Nanan Akufo Addo at this second edition. This is, for him, a strong signal sent to the rest of the world. A signal that Africa takes business seriously. "When leaders want, unprecedented things happen," said Akinwumi Adesina.

The President of the AfDB returned to some "success stories" of the 2018 edition. Indeed, the African guarantee fund intended for investors had set itself the objective of mobilizing 175 million dollars to support small and medium-sized enterprises . This operation, according to Akinwumi Adesina, was financially complete. Another reason for satisfaction: the production and establishment of a manufacturing plant for the African smartphone, ''Mara'', whose initiators had presented their projects last year.

Although much has been done, the challenges ahead are legion. For example, the annual infrastructure funding gap in Africa is estimated at $68 billion to $108 billion. Hence the need to mobilize institutional investors. However, the projections are good, according to the president of the Bad. “Africa offers very interesting investment prospects. The Continental Free Trade Area provides access to a $3.3 trillion market, the largest free trade area since the establishment of the World Trade Organization,” revealed Akinwumi Adesina. Who, in conclusion, reiterated the AfDB's commitment to supporting the private sector and reducing the risks associated with investment.

Note that the second edition of the Africa Investment Forum is being held from November 11 to 13, 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa.