The 2024 Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI), held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, gathered top business leaders, African heads of state, and investors to spotlight the continent’s trade and investment opportunities. The event, now in its third year, continues to push Africa’s “Unstoppable Africa” narrative and reshape perceptions around Africa’s economic potential.
Organized by the UN Global Compact, the forum was led by Executive Director Sanda Ojiambo, who emphasized Africa’s growing importance on the global stage. “Africa is home to 11 of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies. This event serves as a platform to amplify the continent’s opportunities and galvanize investment,” Ojiambo said.
The event attracted a host of high-profile personalities, including the heads of state from Kenya, Botswana, and Madagascar, along with African business leaders from Afreximbank, Safaricom, Power Africa, AfriLabs, and other major corporations. The five pillars discussed—energy access, inclusive growth, digital transformation, creative industries, and sports—offered a roadmap for potential investors and policymakers Accordingly.
In addition to plenary sessions at Cipriani, side discussions allowed deeper dives into partnerships and implementation strategies for Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key announcements included follow-ups from last year’s initiatives by Google, the African Development Bank, and the UNDP’s Timbuktu hubs.
For example, one standout discussion focused on Africa’s creative industries, with Ojiambo citing global dominance in music and fashion as prime areas for growth. “Why shouldn’t African artists fill stadiums on their own continent?” she asked, pointing to the underutilized potential of Africa’s entertainment sectors.
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Furthermore, as Africa continues to attract global attention for its innovation, resources, and consumer market, GABI is evolving into a critical platform for fostering collaboration. Ojiambo stressed the importance of sustained engagement: “Success for us means robust partnerships, announcements, and commitments that we track year-round.”
The GABI event also underscored Africa’s push for greater involvement in global institutions like the G-20 and the UN Security Council, highlighting the continent’s growing role in shaping global economic trends.
The future of Africa looks bright, as the forum ended with a clear call: “Let’s invest in Africa. Let’s believe in Africa. Together, we can collectively lift this great continent,” Ojiambo concluded.