The Africa CEO Forum launched Thursday morning in Kigali, Rwanda, uniting business leaders, investors, heads of state, and government ministers to shape a shared vision for Africa’s growth and global competitiveness.
Under the theme “The Scale Imperative: Why Africa Must Embrace Shared Ownership,” the forum focuses on developing the continent’s private sector.
Opening the event, Rwandan President Paul Kagame urged Africa to harness its advantages: “This continent is home to 60% of solar potential. The majority of critical minerals for batteries are here.” He warned that global powers are fighting over these resources while Africa loses them cheaply.
Kagame also highlighted abundant human capital, noting Africa is poised to have the world’s largest middle class. “How can we have these resources and still struggle with challenges brought by geopolitics and crises?” he asked.
More than 2,800 participants from over 90 countries are attending, with upwards of 300 media personnel covering the proceedings at the Kigali Conference Centre.
