ABIDJAN — The Africa CEO Forum 2025 opened in Abidjan on Monday, bringing together over 2,800 public and private decision-makers aiming to establish a new partnership between African governments and businesses, with a focus on strengthening economic governance to accelerate the continent’s economic transformation.
The forum, founded in 2012 by Jeune Afrique Media Group and co-organized with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), takes place over two days amid challenges including declining development aid, high debt servicing costs, and rising protectionism, alongside opportunities for South-South cooperation and reindustrialization. This 12th edition convenes leaders from more than 90 countries.
The central theme for the gathering is: “Can a New Deal Between State and Private Sector Deliver the Continent a Winning Hand?” Organizers stated the objective is to build a new “deal” to fast-track economic transformation, highlighting economic governance as essential for attracting investment and building trust.
This year’s event focuses on three key priorities: strengthening economic governance to restore trust and improve public policy efficiency; optimizing public policy by aligning regulations and industrial strategies with the needs of African businesses; and accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to build a continental market and lower logistical costs.
In his opening address, President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire stated: “The world is undergoing profound upheavals and major shifts in the geopolitical, economic, and financial spheres. Despite this uncertain context, Côte d’Ivoire is showing strong, sustained growth thanks to a sound macro‑economic framework underpinned by significant private‑sector investment. We must now work to strengthen intra‑African trade by continuing our efforts to process our raw materials and by accelerating the implementation of the AfCFTA. I hope that this edition of the Africa CEO Forum will be a moment of truth and commitment, enabling us to design concrete and ambitious solutions together.”
Amir Ben Yahmed, CEO of Jeune Afrique Media Group, commented: “After two decades of growth, Africa is once again facing challenges we thought were behind us, especially the ballooning debt crisis. Of course, global conditions have deteriorated sharply, but we believe the core issue lies in the quality of public policy and economic governance in our countries. With this ‘New Deal’, we want to bring this issue back to the forefront. Africa must develop its capacity to engage with the private sector and empower it to drive growth. This is essential for regaining a favorable position in the new international environment.”
Makhtar Diop, Managing Director at IFC, said: “Africa’s potential is immense, as is its diversity. Yet it remains largely untapped — from natural resources to infrastructure, from technology to human capital. To realize this potential, we must mobilize private capital towards a competitive and productive Africa that can create massive jobs and inspire the rest of the world. It is in order to achieve this objective and meet the aspirations of young people that we urgently need a new deal between companies and public decision-makers”.
A notable event during the forum will be a public debate featuring candidates for the presidency of the African Development Bank, moderated by Nicholas Norbrook, editor-in-chief of The Africa Report.
The forum gathers participants including more than 900 CEOs. Also attending are over 10 heads of state and government, such as H.E. Alassane Ouattara (Côte d’Ivoire), H.E. Bassirou Diomaye Faye (Senegal), H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa), H.E. Mohamed Ould Ghazouani (Mauritania), and H.E. Paul Kagame (Rwanda). Prime Ministers Robert Beugré Mambé (Côte d’Ivoire), Kassim Majaliwa Majaliwa (Tanzania), Amadou Oury Bah (Guinea), and Joseph Dion Ngute (Cameroon) are also present. Notable private and financial sector attendees include Christel Heydemann (Orange), Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede (Access Holdings), Samaila Zubairu (AFC), Soren Toft (MSC), Françoise Lombard (Proparco), Aïda Diarra (Visa), Serge Ekué (BOAD), Thierry Hebraud (MCB), Philippe Labonne (AGL), Christian Stammkoetter (Danone), Fatoumata Sanogo (Petroci), and musician Davido.
