Second day of Africa 2017 Forum kicks off, deal expected

CAIRO – 8 December 2017: The second day of the Africa 2017 Forum launched this morning, with a deal between the Attijariwafa Bank and The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is expected.

The first session of the day will take the projections of investors in 2018 with regards to foreign direct investments. Speakers of the session include Miguel Azevedo, head of investment banking for Middle East and Africa at Citi Group, Hisham Ezz Al-Arab, chairman of the Commercial International Bank (CIB) and Jim Ovia, founder and managing director of Zenith Bank in Nigeria.

After that, another panel will share their stories on the role of women and leadership in Africa. The speakers of the panel include Ibukun Awosika, chairman of the First Bank Nigeria, Nonkululeko Nyembezi, chairperson of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Janet Heckman, Managing Director of the SEMED region at the ERBD and Maggie Kigozi, chairman of Zuri Model Farm in Uganda.

President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi is anticipated to speak at 1:30 p.m. to mark the official opening of the forum, along with Alpha Condé, president of the Republic of Guinea, Paul Kagame, president of the Republic of Rwanda and Alassane Ouattara, president of the Republic Côte d'Ivoire.