Financing business opportunities

Africa Finance & Investment Forum 2014 will spotlight the emerging markets across Sub-Saharan Africa

From the 4-5 June 2014 this year’s Africa Finance & Investment Forum (AFIF), which will focus on ‘Financing Business Opportunities’ in Sub-Saharan Africa, will be hosted by DEG and organized in partnership with EMRC International.

“We strongly believe that Africa our neighbouring continent is a continent of opportunities and despite many challenges a place to do business. Some of the fastest growing economies are today in Africa. African countries offer an improved business environment and risks that are manageable. This is why we invest in Africa and encourage investors to make use of these vast opportunities,” explains Bruno Wenn, Chairman of the DEG Managing Board, in the run-up to the Forum.

Hosted at DEG headquarters in Cologne, AFIF 2014 will spotlight the emerging markets across Sub-Saharan Africa and provide business people working with and in Africa with the opportunity to meet with investors and discuss the current financial issues affecting the continent. EMRC’s approach to grow and strengthen Africa’s private sector is in parallel with DEG’s policy to promote business initiative in developing and emerging market countries by making long-term financing and advice available to private enterprises investing in these countries.

This year’s programme will focus on the current issues facing Sub-Saharan Africa’s finance sector such as ‘The role of International Financial Institutions’, ‘Development Institutions, Innovative solutions to increase Access to Finance’ and ‘Increasing access to finance in key sectors (agriculture, water, renewable energy)’ amongst other subjects.

An expected two hundred selected professionals from Africa, Europe and beyond will participate. The likes of entrepreneurs seeking partnerships, policy makers, financiers, African governmental officials, multinationals, venture capitalists, investors and bankers looking for successful investment challenges and for an opportunity to showcase their innovative/integrated activities in the continent will take part in the plenary sessions, B2B sessions and informal networking evenings.

To showcase the results private sector initiatives can create in local communities, the Project Incubator Award will be open to all participants, who will have to present their business projects and adhere to specific criteria. The winner will be picked by a panel of international experts, will receive a cash prize and will be interviewed by the international media.

In addition, a two-day Executive Training on “Sources of Funding/ Pitching & Presenting a Business Plan” will be organised in collaboration with a team of experts from ITC – the UN International Trade Centre.

Partner organizations of the event are the IFC (International Finance Corporation); ITC (International Trade Centre), Shell Foundation, Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft and SAFRI.

Interested participants are urged to contact EMRC International and book a place for AFIF 2014. Please contact .

Further information:

• EMRC-Website
• EMRC put forward a few questions to Bruno Wenn, Chairman of the DEG Management Board about DEG’s vision for Africa. To read the full interview of Bruno Wenn, please click here.