The 23rd World Economic Forum on Africa will be hosted at Cape Town’s International Convention Centre from 8-10 May 2013. The Forum provides a platform for regional and global leaders from business, government and civil society to deepen thecontinent’s integration agenda and renew commitment to a sustainable path of growth.
In addition to a two-day public programme, there will also be a number of significant meetings on the fringes of the World Economic Forum on Africa. The Grow Africa Investment Forum, on 8-9 May, will attempt to build on its successes in 2012 by underscoring further commitment from both the public and private sectors. Another meeting is Shape Africa, organised by the Cape Town hub of the Global Shapers Community, a worldwide network of young leaders between the ages of 20 and 30, which takes place in the city on 6-7 May.
About The World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum (WEF) describes itself as an independent international organisation committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. WEF encourages businesses, governments and civil society to commit to improving the state of the world by helping stakeholders meet key challenges such as building sustained economic growth, mitigating global risks, promoting health for all, improving social welfare and fostering environmental sustainability.
Incorporated as a not-for-profit foundation in 1971 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Forum is tied to no political, partisan or national interests. WEF is best known for its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland and it also convenes some six to eight regional meetings each year in locations such as Latin America and East Asia. Beside meetings, the foundation produces a series of research reports and engages its members in sector specific initiatives.
WEF Africa 2013 Participants
• More than850 participants from over 70 countries• More than600 business leaders• 65 public figuresincluding8 heads of state or government• 64 Global Growth Companyparticipants• More than50 media leaders• More than116 young leadersfromYoung Global Leaders and Global Shaper communities• More than180 women leaders
Led by President Jacob Zuma and representatives from his government, other leaders that have confirmed their participation are:
• Benin, President Thomas Yayi Boni;• Ethiopia, Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn;• Kenya, President Uhuru Kenyatta;• Malawi, President Joyce Banda;• Nigeria, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan;• Seychelles, President James Alix Michel;• Swaziland, King Mswati III;• Tanzania, President Jakaya M. Kikwete;• Togo, President Faure Gnassingbé;• Uganda,Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi; and• Zimbabwe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
Theme: “Delivering on Africa’s Promise”
The following will be addressed under the themeDelivering on Africa’s Promise:• AcceleratingEconomic Diversification;• BoostingStrategic Infrastructure; and• UnlockingAfrica’s Talent.
Africa’s most Competitive Economies
The World Economic Forum (WEF) on September 5 2012 published its Global Competitiveness Report 2012-2013, which ranks economies in terms of national competitiveness. Of the 144 countries ranked, 38 are African economies, and only South Africa, Mauritius, Rwanda and Morocco feature in the top half.
The WEF defines competitiveness as the “set of institutions, policies, and factors that determine the level of productivity of a country. The level of productivity, in turn, sets the level of prosperity that can be earned by an economy. The productivity level also determines the rates of return obtained by investments in an economy, which in turn are the fundamental drivers of its growth rates. In other words, a more competitive economy is one that is likely to sustain growth.”
To determine these rankings, global economies were rated according to 12 pillars: institutions, infrastructure, macroeconomic environment, health and primary education, higher education and training, goods market efficiency, labour market efficiency, financial market development, technological readiness, market size, business sophistication, and innovation.
This year saw Gabon, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Seychelles included in the rankings with a return by Libya after a year of non-inclusion. Angola and Tunisia were not included in the 2012-2013 survey due to research problems.
South Africa is the top ranked country in Africa in terms of competitiveness, and is ranked 52nd out of the 144 economies surveyed, down two points from 50th place last year. South Africa is placed third among the BRICS economies. It ranks second in the world for the accountability of private institutions and third for financial market development, “indicating high confidence in South Africa’s financial markets at a time when trust is returning only slowly in many other parts of the world”. It scored worst for its labour market practises (143rd place for its rigid hiring and firing practises) and it is ranked last (144th) for the country’s significant tensions in labour-employer relations.
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