Africa CEO Summit: PM Dion Ngute, Cameroonian business executives wooing investors.

The gathering of over 1,800 participants went underway yesterday. The President of Cote D’Ivoire, Alasane Dramane Ouattara, set the tone for discussions. 

Prime Minister Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute is representing the Head of State, Paul Biya, at the forum.

Dion Ngute is head of a delegation which comprises among others; the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, MINEPAT, Alamine Ousman Mey; the General Manager of the Cameroon Investment Promotion Agency, IPA, Angeline Marthe Mindja and the Director of Cabinet at the Prime Minister’s Office, Balungeli Ebune Confiance.

The Prime Minister, Head of Government, is expected to mount the rostrum today to address the gathering of mostly business executives from across Africa and the world, on “lnvesting in Cameroon”.

In the business world, top Cameroonian business executives to address  investors and policy leaders are Colin Ebako Mukete, who is President and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the Spectrum Group. 

Ebako Mukete, who is Prince of Kumba is also Board Chairperson and one of the founders of MTN Cameroon where he owns 40 percent of shares. 

Ebako, who is into media, real estate and mining, was programmed to address the conference yesterday. This was on the topic: “Creating tomorrow’s champions of sovereignty today”.

Another Cameroonian to talk at the summit is Kates Kanyi Tumeti Fotso, Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Telcar Cocoa. 

As head of the company which has remained a major cocoa exporter in Cameroon in the last decades, her presentation is programmed for today. 

She will be talking on “The Africa Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, and Agribusiness: Unleashing a new era for local manufacturing”.

Meanwhile, the President of the Cameroon Employers’ Association, GICAM, Celestin Tawamba, will also mount the platform today to talk on investing in Cameroon.

Heads of State and Governments, leaders, and senior executives from the largest African companies, representatives of investors and international donors; nearly 2,000 high-level decision-makers will participate in the exchanges.

Makhtar Diop, Chief Executive Officer, CEO of the International Finance Corporation, IFC, an entity of the World Bank with interest in the private sector, is also among speakers. 

Amir Ben Yahmed, Chief Executive Officer, CEO of the Jean Africa Media Group, is also a key speaker. 

This year, focus is on moving Africa’s development forward through the application of best practices in relation to climate change and environmental concerns to achieve sustainable development.

The Prime Ministers of Cote D’ Ivoire and Morocco, Patrick Achi and Aziz Akhannouch respectively, will address the session on collective measures needed to boost investment across the African continent.

Heads of State and Governments from at least 41 African countries are taking part in the summit. Participants are from 71 countries across the globe. 

Experts say the meeting is the largest come together of the African private sector in one sitting. It will also feature debates and other presentations to enlighten stakeholders on the role of the private sector in moving Africa’s development needs to the next level amid challenges.