5th edition of the International Development Forum : Africans trust Africa

Casablanca, the economic capital of Morocco. This is where the 5th edition of the International Development Forum was held. More than 2,000 representatives of some 30 African countries met for two days.

The Casablanca Forum was intended as a platform for exchange between private investors and African policy makers. A dialogue that focused on the pooling of forces.

Madeleine berre, minister for promoting private investment, trade, tourism and industry (Gabon)

“If my neighbour has a dam with a very high electricity rate, it is not useful for me to make the same investment again. Nothing but the pooling of our tools and our forces can enable us to be a true economic force.”

Africa today is a continent of one billion people, a figure that will more than double by 2050. The challenge is therefore also to create an “inclusive” growth, in other words integrating a social dimension.

Mohamed el kettani, Ceo Attijariwafa bank group :

“How to develop models of economic growth, to integrate low-income populations, and especially, especially youth, because it is estimated that 12 and 13 million young Africans enter the labour market each year.”

The growth potential of Africa is very important. To attract investors, many countries like Burkina Faso and Senegal have created strategies based on emergence. Models that the participants at the Casablanca forum also shared.

Conscious of its strengths, Africa also bears in mind that it will need to remain open to other continents.