What will it take to unlock Africa's value chains?

The African continent is rich in resources and potential, yet unlocking and tapping into its value chains remains a crucial step towards fostering sustainable growth and attracting investors. Hani Salem Sonbol, CEO of the Islamic Trade Corporation, emphasized the importance of forums like the African Investment Forum in addressing challenges and promoting prosperity in Africa. These forums bring together policymakers, decision-makers, presidents from African nations, multilateral development institutions, financial partners, and a select audience to tackle key issues, with a focus on unlocking Africa's value chains. Sonbol highlighted the efforts being made to make Africa more prosperous through projects and transactions. The African Investment Forum serves as a platform for deals and transactions, where real projects are discussed, and potential opportunities in Africa are explored. In addition to dialogues and discussions, the forum features deal rooms where concrete projects are examined, providing experts with the opportunity to offer solutions for unlocking value chains, particularly in the agricultural sector, which is a priority for the continent. Sonbol expressed the Islamic Trade Corporation's commitment to supporting initiatives that arise from the forum and emphasized the role of multilateral development banks in backing these efforts. Expectations for this year's forum are high, with a focus on leveraging the Special Agricultural Processing Zones (SAPZ) initiative. The alliance around SAPZ is growing stronger, with partners coming together to support the $3 billion investment announced during the forum. This initiative, along with other flagship programs, showcases the potential for Africa to utilize its own resources and attract foreign direct investment. While the global political and economic landscape poses challenges, the African continent is positioning itself to attract investment and promote sustainable development through strategic partnerships and initiatives showcased at forums like the African Investment Forum.