AFRICA DAY: STRENGHTEN THE LINKS, FOCUS SOLUTIONS CEMA, a major economic partner for MONACO/AFRIQUE

AFRICA DAY: STRENGHTEN THE LINKS, FOCUS SOLUTIONS CEMA, a major economic partner for MONACO/AFRIQUE

The second Africa Day was held in Monaco on October 16. The aim of this annual forum is to encourage exchanges between entrepreneurs from the African continent and Monegasque entrepreneurs, in order to build a better future.

The Club des Entreprises Monégasques en Afrique (CEMA), under the presidency of Mr. Frédéric Geerts, organized this annual forum, which was designed to be bold and purposeful, on the theme "Strenghten the links, focus Solutions". 

Major topics were discussed, such as how to raise funds to expand in Africa, or how to secure investments. Numerous telecoms and transport service providers also spoke about the challenges of the supply chain and infrastructure development, and proposed solutions. A fascinating debate focused on influential women in the Principality and in Africa, with the presence of Mrs. Ouided Bouchamaoui, 2015 Nobel Peace Prize winner. 

The discussions were numerous and lively, thanks to some thirty prestigious speakers, including Mr Prakash Hinduja, Chairman of Hinduja Group of Companies, Mr Léon Koffi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of AFG Bank, Mr Moussadeck Bally, Consul of Monaco in Mali and Chairman of Groupe AZALAÏ,Mr. Etienne Giros, President of the European Business Council for Africa (EBCAM) and of the Conseil Français des Investisseurs en Afrique (CIAN), and Zyad Liman, founder of Afrique Magazine and expert on the geopolitics of the African continent.

Ms. Isabelle Rosabrunetto, Director General of Monaco's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, presented Monaco's thematic and geographic priorities for cooperation in Africa. 

Ms. Emilie Larese-Silvestre, Program Coordinator of the International Cooperation Department, then detailed official development assistance to support SMEs with a social/environmental impact on the African continent.

Mr. Guillaume Rose, Executive General Manager of the Monaco Economic Board, emphasized the promise of economic exchanges between Monaco and Africa.

Mr. Jérôme Froissart, Secretary General of the Association Mondiale des Amis De l'Enfance (AMADE), presented the causes supported by his association in Africa.

Finally, Mr. Frédéric Genta, Délégué Interministériel à l'attractivité et à la transition numérique (Interministerial Delegate for Attractiveness and Digital Transition) highlighted Monaco's strengths: government stability, security, debt-free status, international hub and skills pool. These assets should make the Principality a major economic partner for Africa.