Addis Ababa, 8 May 2012
President Kagame has today arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he will participate in the 22nd World Economic Forum (WEF). The 9-11 May event is taking place in Addis Ababa for the first time this year. The forum will see several African heads of state; public figures and business people participate in discussions on how to improve Africa’s potential, in order for the continent to become a new global growth pole.
Under the theme “Shaping Africa’s Transformation”, the forum is will address three priorities: Strengthening Africa’s Leadership; Accelerating Investment in Frontier Markets; and Scaling Innovation for Shared Opportunities. President Kagame is scheduled to attend the opening plenary of the WEF and will on Friday participate in an interactive session with 32 young leaders who are members of the WEF Global Shapers Community from 17 African countries.
President Kagame will also participate in the closing session of the ongoing Grow Africa Investment Forum alongside Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and President Jakaya Kikwete. Rwanda is among the first wave of Grow Africa countries that also include Tanzania, Mozambique, Ghana, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and Kenya.
The Grow Africa Investment Forum aims to catalyze new partnerships, investment commitments, and insights among participants who are committed to developing African agriculture to contribute to food security, environmental sustainability and economic opportunity on the continent. In attendance are over 200 high-level leaders of global, regional and national business, African and other governments, international organisations, civil society and farmers’ organisations.