Marrakech to host 2022 US-Africa Business Summit

The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) has officially launched the 2022 U.S. – Africa Business Summit website which is now open for registration. The Summit, themed ‘Building Forward Together,’ will be held in Marrakech, Morocco on July 19 – 22, 2022 in partnership with the Kingdom of Morocco and Africa50 (the pan-African infrastructure investment platform). The Summit will explore a renewed commitment by both public and private sector stakeholders to building stronger U.S. and Africa trade, investment, and commercial ties as we emerge from unprecedented health and economic challenges.

The U.S.-Africa Business Summit is the first major in-person U.S.-Africa conference that meets the pent-up demand for countries and companies to re-engage and collaborate since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. CCA has an exciting line-up of high level and panel discussions, networking opportunities, and activities that will allow attendees to meet face-to face to engage on key U.S.-Africa economic issues and re-establish important business contacts that were not possible over the past 2 years.

This year’s Summit will host African Heads of State, U.S. Government & African Officials, top CEO’s and Senior Executives from U.S. and African companies operating in sectors contributing to Africa’s economic growth and relaunch including infrastructure, ICT, health, energy, mining, and creative industries. With speaker confirmations already rolling in, CCA is pleased to announce the following African Heads of State who have confirmed their attendance and will be guest speakers:

 

• His Excellency Dr. Mokgweetsi E.K. Masisi, President of Botswana and 
• His Excellency Filipe Nyusi, President of Mozambique
• His Excellency H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana

 

The 2022 Summit will feature over 35 sessions about areas of U.S.-Africa business collaboration such as agribusiness, infrastructure, energy & climate change, health, cybersecurity & ICT, manufacturing and other sector-focused topics. Session topics will include “Building a Just Transition to Net Zero in Africa,” “Innovation for Agriculture Transformation,” and “SMEs: Fueling the Recovery & Economic Growth,” to name few. Attendees will participate in high-level roundtables, panels, and country forums, with ample opportunities to network with business and government leaders to develop new business partners. The exhibition center will allow organizations to amplify their brand and showcase their business to leaders and the investment community.

During the Summit, Africa50 will organize in partnership with the Corporate Council on Africa, a series of discussions dedicated to infrastructure investing in Africa. The sessions will include a presidential dialogue; a roundtable discussion on ways to mobilize institutional investors’ capital to fund infrastructure projects; a session on opportunities to increase Public-Private Partnerships in the power transmission sector; and a panel on tech-enabled infrastructure.

Speaking about the partnership, CEO Alain Ebobissé said, “we are pleased to partner with the Corporate Council on Africa for this important event which comes at a crucial time, as the continent faces unprecedented external shocks and is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a need for strong, innovative, and bold responses to accelerate the recovery while driving climate-resilient and sustainable growth, and infrastructure will play a key role.”

CCA’s co-host, The Kingdom of Morocco, will be facilitating site visits and tours of Marrakech and other Moroccan cities for special Summit guests. As the only African nation with a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States, a major investor in sub-Saharan Africa and successes to showcase in penetrating key global manufacturing ecosystems (including aviation, agribusiness, and automotive), Morocco has much to showcase around the areas of increased intra-African trade as well as enhancing the U.S.- Africa trade, investment, and commercial relationship. Morocco also welcomes Summit guests to enjoy the sights and sounds of Marrakech and other cultural and historic Moroccan tourist attractions.