Africa Finance & Investment Forum 2015 To Take Place In Africa For The First Time

This year's Africa Finance & Investment Forum (AFIF205) will focus on 'Access to Finance & Entrepreneurship' and will be held for the first time on Africa soil, in Cape Town. AFIF2015 will be organized in collaboration with the European Investment Bank (EIB) between the 24 and 26 November 2015.

A first for EMRC's annual international financial gathering, AFIF2015 will bring together different regions of the world with a common drive to fulfil Sub-Sahara Africa's potential. This year's partnership with EIB, which is the largest multilateral borrower and lender by volume providing finance and expertise, will ensure a North & South perspective to the discussions and policy evaluations.

'In line with the EU's Agenda for Change, in the coming years the Bank will have a renewed focus on private sector development (70% of its annual activity in Sub-Saharan Africa), recognised as a key driver of sustainable growth,' highlights Patrick Walsh, European Investment Bank's Director of the ACP Lending Department.

Confirmed keynote speaker Honourable Lord Boateng, formerly Chief Secretary of the UK and Britain's High Commissioner to RSA (2005-2009), views the upcoming forum as a significant event. "The AFIF 2015 Conference provides an exciting opportunity for policy makers, academics, and practitioners, to come together to explore best practice and chart the way forward, in this critical year in which sustainable development takes centre stage. I look forward to joining in the discussions," he says.

Partnering with the likes of DEG, Afreximbank, EIB, IFC, Rabobank Foundation, Islamic Corporation of the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), Bank of Development of Brazil (BNDES), AFIF has become over the years the annual meeting which offers pro-active, goal driven sessions with a focus on establishing tangible results for speakers, partners and most importantly participants.

With an expected 300 people from all over the world, the three days will see policymakers, financiers, bankers and private sector entrepreneurs discuss and find practical business solutions. AFIF is a pragmatic and business oriented experience, which rewards participants with substantial business contacts, especially those who have come prepared and identified their key needs.

AFIF regroups three key target groups: Entrepreneurs (project owners, CEO etc..), financial institutions (banks) and investors interested in investing directly in banks or projects (DFIs/IFIs/Foundations). 'AFIF is addressed to all those from North & South that never stopped believing in the potential of Africa and truly see it as a continent of countless opportunities, of challenges, of fearless entrepreneurs where many good things can happen', explains Ines Bastos, EMRC Senior Project Manager.

This philosophy is put into practice through the B2B meetings, which are tailor-made to ensure maximum business partnership success and which involve participants, speakers and partners.

Last year's forum saw over 500 such meetings taking place. In addition, there will be information stands where delegates can hold one-on-one discussions with investors, foundation representatives etc.

The forum will provide simultaneous interpretation in English, French and Portuguese.

• To read the AFIF2015 Concept Note, please click here.
• To have further information concerning the AFIF2015 Registration please view the main AFIF2015 page here and scroll down.
• To view the entire interview of European Investment Bank's Director of the ACP Lending Department, Patrick Walsh, please click here.

About EMRC
Established in 1992 in Brussels, EMRC is a non-profit International Association composed of a network of entrepreneurs, financiers, consultants and officials based throughout the world. EMRC's mission is to lead the private sector in Africa to sustainable economic development and to drive regional change via partnerships. Follow us on Twitter Facebook LinkdIn YouTube and Flickr

About AFIF
The Africa Finance & Investment Forum (AFIF) is an annual business event organized in the framework of EMRC International's activities, aimed at strengthening the private sector in Africa, encouraging entrepreneurship and attracting investment to the African continent. AFIF has a double objective: to strengthen the financial capacities of Africa's private sector and to promote the creation of new partnerships through the encouragement of joint projects and trade relations North-South & South-South.