“Here, we invest!” It is short, direct but also rich in content through the commitment it induces. Ms. Mouna Kadiri, director of the Africa Development Club, already sets the tone. “Here, it is at home in Africa,” she says, to point out the axis of the debate theme on the agenda of the forum.
Thus, she reports that 2,000 business leaders and political decision-makers from 30 countries on the continent and partner countries will be present in Casablanca. According to him, 4000 business meetings are scheduled for this edition placed under the sign of investment.
“Here, we invest! » is this year’s theme. And the director of the Africa Development Club explains the choice of this theme for at least 3 reasons:
First of all « Because’here, in Casablanca, is our home in Africa.” She then underlines the importance of “youth, the primary demographic force of this continent, so rich, for the creation of jobs, the construction of our societies, on the one hand, and on the other hand, for contribute to strengthening business and also multicultural corridors to serve an Africa that is moving forward,” investment is essential.
Finally, new for this edition is the establishment of a pavilion dedicated to the African Continental Free Trade Zone (Zlecaf) run by the Zlecaf secretariat to provide first-hand information to companies and support them on the modalities to develop their opportunities across the continent.
Better still, there will also be a space on the Royal Africa Atlantic Initiative to expose a certain number of structuring projects which “carry a first-rate civilizational vision”. Without forgetting the investment market where 11 countries will be in the spotlight.
The Senegalese named Papa Ibrahima Tall, CEO of SODAAC, a Senegalese company that is active at the same time in the agri-food, construction materials, import-export begins to select the activities that attract his attention already on the way to Casablanca, where he will reside during the four days of the event. He is more interested in activities that concern logistics, Buildings and public works (BTP) and the agri-food sector.
“We are looking for strong partners to develop our activities in the logistics and public works sectors,” he confides. His company is seeking to meet partners for the “supply of 12-wheel trucks, machinery among others”.
“We are also looking for partners in fleet operations,” he says. According to him, it is a question of “putting their expertise to the benefit of partners for the management and operation of their trucks in the distribution and logistics sectors”.
Special envoys to Casablanca
Ismaila BA and Bassirou MBAYE
