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WEF offers opportunity good for investors flush with cash

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Africa’s opportunities and challenges will come under the spotlight when more than 1 000 delegates meet to attend the 25th World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town from Wednesday. The theme for this year’s gathering is Then and Now: Regaining Africa’s Future. Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe says the meeting is an opportunity to discuss and set the record straight on numerous issues, including migration and policy. Seventeen cabinet ministers will accompany President Jacob Zuma at the gathering of mainly business leaders.

This year, the World Economic Forum on Africa will bring together a record number of delegates in Cape Town. The meeting brings together business execitives and government leaders to discuss investment.

The forum is used by many governments on the continent to convince business leaders to invest in their countries.

It is also an opportunity for investors flush with cash to establish new markets.

There are more than fifty sessions covering various topics from security to mining and food, WEF’s senior Director for Africa Elsie Kanza says, “ The purpose of the meeting is to look ahead than most of us comfortable with, Africa made strides in 1990 politically, but challenges are mounting.”

Kanza says the event has attracted a record number of women and delegates, “The gender parities is a global issue, progress has been made but the gap is still there.”

The President of Ghana and Nigerian Vice President-elect will join President Jacob Zuma at the event. South Africa will use the WEF on Africa to reassure investors that the country is open for business.

Eighty-five government leaders attending the World Economic Forum on Africa are hoping that some of the links forged with business leaders will translate to real action to deal with rising unemployment among the youth, food shortages, a lack of skills and widening inequality.

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