24-26 January 2012

ED Caroline Kende-Robb in Davos

APP ED Caroline Kende-Robb went to Davos to attend WEF Africa breakfast meeting and speak at the Africa investor roundtable on regional economic integration in Africa and access to leadership. She also met with Panel members Linah Mohohlo and Muhammad Yunus to discuss about priority issues for the APP and the challenges Africa is facing in the global power shift and financial turmoil. In addition, Mrs. Kende-Robb took the opportunity of being in Davos to meet with APP partner organizations and government representatives.

Africa investor Roundtable

The event meeting gathered global CEOs and government leaders investing in Africa. Co-hosted by Africa investor and Brand South Africa, the Leaders Roundtable entitled: the Business of Implementing Regional Integration in Africa: Access to Leadership.

Mrs Kende-Robb said: There is a subtle difference between access and influence. Access to leadership alone is not enough. There is a need also to mobilise people in power and others who can then influence change. One of the things we hear most frequently across Africa is that young entrepreneurs feel frustrated by the lack of opportunity to influence policies.They need to be able to voice their concerns to create greater political support for successful regional integration. African citizens themselves can influence those in power to look at more ways we can promote regional integration. There is an incredible need to focus on the domestic African private sector, and to shift the dialogue of Africa from an aid recipient to an investment destination. There is a need to reach out to younger entrepreneurs across Africa, they have some fantastic ideas and can help create the political world that’s needed, there is a massive upside to listening to them. 

Other speakers included Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank and the audience was composed of African and international CEOs as well as representatives from the private sector, governments and international organizations.

Photos