Rwanda hosts 26th World Economic Forum on Africa

Rwanda will host the 26th annual World Economic Forum on Africa starting Wednesday. More than 1,500 delegates from global and regional corporations are expected to attend this summit.

The theme of this year’s summit is: Connecting Africa’s Resources Through Digital Transformation.

“The digital transformation gives us the possibility of rapid progress. For example, in trade in Africa, taking into account the energy deficit, taking into account respect of agriculture. I will focus on these three. To this you can add the e-commerce. Just in 2013, I said that there would be $8 billion at stake and it is estimated that if we can accelerate the pace of 2020, 2025 this could rise to 50 billion,” said Elsie Kanza, Director of the World Economic Forum for Africa.

Who's coming to the World Economic Forum on Africa 2016? https://t.co/mAVBMY14Oz #af16 pic.twitter.com/aK77cG1kfB

— World Economic Forum (@wef) May 11, 2016

The overall theme for the forum whose main meeting is held in Davos, Switzerland every January is, ‘The Fourth Industrial Revolution’. The theme seeks to open up discussions on how African economies can use digital technologies to facilitate development.

Claver Gatete, Rwanda’s Finance Minister said: “How we grow, what are the challenges that we have on the African continent, how we think and act about it? We will not only think as what the government can do, but also what can the business do. How we can work together to ensure sustainable development. How we are going to face the challenges of economic growth and how to include everyone in this growth.”

About 10 heads of state and governments have confirmed attendance as well as numerous business leaders representing corporations from across the world.