<p><strong><em>By: Stella Kilonzo, Senior Director, Africa Investment Forum, African Development Bank</em></strong></p>
<p>It is estimated that around $170 billion is required per annum to finance the African Development Bank’s High Five Agenda. Moreover, Africa’s annual infrastructure gap is estimated anywhere between $68 &#8211; $130 billion a year.</p>
<p>When placed within the context of the continent’s growing population, youth bulge and economic potential, the need for increased private sector involvement is immediate. Decades of public spending, for instance on infrastructure has not been sufficient to adequately address the gap in the quantity or quality of much-needed infrastructure across the continent.</p>
<p>Africa does need a pool of investible funds that are accessible and long-tenured to finance its transformation. There is, therefore, an obvious need for Africa to significantly formalize its economies, create businesses that operate as corporate entities, and separately from their owners, as well as the right policy, regulatory and economic environments that are attractive to long term capital. Together with effective institutions for capital intermediation and appropriate investment market places, connecting providers and users of capital, such as the Africa Investment Forum, Africa can accelerate its economic and social transformation.</p>
<p>Across regions and in specific countries, there are several silver linings in the cloud. Much of it thanks to the active engagement of the private sector, and this is increasingly through financial markets.  This year, we witnessed the Initial Public Offer (IPO) and listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange of Vivo Energy&#8217;s, that raised over $740 million, which remains the largest listing of an Africa-focused business since 2005. Moreover, one of the most talked about IPOs was the MTN Group&#8217;s Ghana offering.</p>
<p>As investors focus greater attention on opportunities, what is coming into sharp focus is the premium that investors and markets are placing on good governance, market depth, the rule of law, policy and regulatory environments.</p>
<p>Aside from South Africa whose Johannesburg Stock Exchange market capitalization is around $1.06 trillion, most African financial markets remain small.</p>
<p>Despite challenges, Africa’s private sector and financial markets present strong possibilities and realistic potential for bridging the financing gap critical for the continent’s economic and social transformation, and the achievement of our priorities in agriculture, regional integration, energy, industrialization, and improvement of the standards of living across the continent as well as the sustainable development goals.</p>
<p>The fact is, the private sector and financial market contribution in helping to close the financing gap is neither a miracle nor a mirage. It is not a miracle as it is based on unleashing the full potential of the real economy and encouraging investment. It is also not a mirage as the public and private sector must continue to work together, and through the markets and other intermediary institutions, to raise capital especially the much needed long term funding.</p>
<p>The Africa Investment Forum, November 7 -9, 2018, will no doubt help raise the bar when it comes to bringing together all stakeholders,  public and private, and matching investment capital with the private sector, bankable projects and the continent’s ambitious goal of reducing its multi-billion dollar financing gap,  including for infrastructure.</p>
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This could be a game changer for financing Africa’s transformation

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<p>CNBC Africa spoke to delegates attending the inaugural Africa Investment Forum about their expectations from the forum.</p>


Delegates share their expectations from the inaugural Africa Investment Forum

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<p>Ibukun Adebayo, Co-Head of Emerging Markets &#038; Equity Primary Markets for the London Stock Exchange Group, talks about the need for Africa need to align policies in order to attract foreign direct investment.</p>


Ibukun Adebayo on role of the LSE in driving investment to Africa

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<p>European Investment Bank vice-President, Ambroise Fayolle speaks to CNBC Africa on the side-lines of the inaugural Africa Investment Forum about the investment opportunities in Africa.</p>


European Investment Bank’s Ambroise Fayolle talks about investment opportunities in Africa

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<p>On the side-lines of Africa Investment Forum 2018 Japan Bank for International Co-operation, Deputy Governor Nobumitsu Hayashi, spoke to CNBC Africa about their plans for Africa.</p>


Japan Bank for International Co-operation’s plans for Africa

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<p>SF Capital CEO, Moustapha Sow spoke to CNBC Africa’s Karabo Letlhatlha about how best to bridge Africa’s infrastructure deficit at the inaugural Africa Investment Forum in Johannesburg South Africa.</p>


SF Capital’s Moustapha Sow on tackling Africa’s infrastructure deficit

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<p>South Africa&#8217;s Deputy Energy Minister, Thembisile Majola spoke to CNBC Africa at the inaugural Africa Investment Forum about what measures they have put in place to tackle high fuel prices as well as the energy sector outlook for the country.</p>


Energy Minister Thembisile Majola outlines plan to tackle SA’s high fuel prices

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<p>Wolfgang Schmidt, Federal State Secretary, Germany Ministry of Finance spoke to CNBC Africa about finding investment opportunities on the African continent on the sidelines of the Africa Investment Forum.</p>


Germany reaffirms commitment to Africa’s growth

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<p>South Africa’s minister of finance Tito Mboweni spoke to CNBC Africa about the importance of the Africa Investment Forum as driver for channelling infrastructure investment on the continent as well as the need to change the funding models to encourage inclusive growth.</p>


SA finmin Mboweni on infrastructure investment, achieving inclusive growth in Africa

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<p>At the ongoing Africa Investment Forum CNBC Africa spoke with Daphne Mahile Nkosi, chair of Kalagadi Manganese Mine on the challenges of mining in Africa and future plans.</p>


Kalagadi Manganese mine plans to become the largest manganese exporter

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<p>Samuel Dossou-Aworet, Founder, Petrolin Group spoke to CNBC Africa on the sidelines of the Africa Investment Forum about the need for greater support from African governments in developing entrepreneurs.</p>


Petrolin Group’s Samuel Dossou-Aworet urges African govts to promote entrepreneurship

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<p>At the ongoing Africa Investment Forum underway in South Africa CNBC Africa spoke to Dave Uduanu, CEO, Sigma Pensions about mobilising pension funds for development.</p>


Sigma Pensions CEO talks on mobilising pension funds for development

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<p>One of the major challenge that Africa’s aviation faces is funding, and its one sector that is often overlooked but with huge opportunities says Chamsou Andjorn, SSA Director for Government Affairs &#038; Market Development at Boeing International.</p>


There is huge potential for growth in Africa’s aviation – Boeing’s Chamsou Andjorn

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<p>CNBC Africa spoke to Evans Osano, Director, Financial Markets at FSD Africa on why they attended the Africa Investment Forum 2018 and expectations from the 3-day conference.</p>


Why we attended the Africa Investment Forum in South Africa – FSD Africa

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<p>Carlos Lopes, Former Executive Secretary, UNECA commended all those who contributed to the organisation of the Africa Investment Forum and called for more more investment in infrastructure and Information Technology in Africa. He spoke to CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Carlos Lopes hails Africa Investment Forum, urges more investment in infrastructure

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<p>It is all set for one of the biggest investment conferences this continent has ever seen. The African Investment Forum from tomorrow to 9 will see investors finance ministers arriving in Johannesburg for a conference that organisers promise will be short on talk and big on deals. CNBC Africa’s Head of Programming Chris Bishop looks at investment case for the continent.</p>


Africa Investment Forum brings African economic growth to the fore

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<p>South Africa just hosted its inaugural Investment conference and this week it’s the Africa Investment Forum, so investment is the buzzword currently in the local economy. Group Executive for Trade, Investment at Gauteng Growth and Development Agency, Muziwethu Mathema, has been leading a division responsible for trade, exports in and out of the Gauteng province including foreign direct investment. He joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


African Development Bank

This could be a game changer for financing Africa’s transformation

Delegates share their expectations from the inaugural Africa Investment Forum

Ibukun Adebayo on role of the LSE in driving investment to Africa

European Investment Bank’s Ambroise Fayolle talks about investment opportunities in Africa

Japan Bank for International Co-operation’s plans for Africa

SF Capital’s Moustapha Sow on tackling Africa’s infrastructure deficit

Energy Minister Thembisile Majola outlines plan to tackle SA’s high fuel prices

Germany reaffirms commitment to Africa’s growth

SA finmin Mboweni on infrastructure investment, achieving inclusive growth in Africa

Kalagadi Manganese mine plans to become the largest manganese exporter

Petrolin Group’s Samuel Dossou-Aworet urges African govts to promote entrepreneurship

Sigma Pensions CEO talks on mobilising pension funds for development

There is huge potential for growth in Africa’s aviation – Boeing’s Chamsou Andjorn

Why we attended the Africa Investment Forum in South Africa – FSD Africa

Carlos Lopes hails Africa Investment Forum, urges more investment in infrastructure

Africa Investment Forum brings African economic growth to the fore

What Gauteng wants to achieve from the Africa Investment Forum

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African Development Bank

This could be a game changer for financing Africa’s transformation

Delegates share their expectations from the inaugural Africa Investment Forum

Ibukun Adebayo on role of the LSE in driving investment to Africa

European Investment Bank’s Ambroise Fayolle talks about investment opportunities in Africa

Japan Bank for International Co-operation’s plans for Africa

SF Capital’s Moustapha Sow on tackling Africa’s infrastructure deficit

Energy Minister Thembisile Majola outlines plan to tackle SA’s high fuel prices

Germany reaffirms commitment to Africa’s growth

SA finmin Mboweni on infrastructure investment, achieving inclusive growth in Africa

Kalagadi Manganese mine plans to become the largest manganese exporter

Petrolin Group’s Samuel Dossou-Aworet urges African govts to promote entrepreneurship

Sigma Pensions CEO talks on mobilising pension funds for development

There is huge potential for growth in Africa’s aviation – Boeing’s Chamsou Andjorn

Why we attended the Africa Investment Forum in South Africa – FSD Africa

Carlos Lopes hails Africa Investment Forum, urges more investment in infrastructure

Africa Investment Forum brings African economic growth to the fore

What Gauteng wants to achieve from the Africa Investment Forum

News Tips

Advertise With Us

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