African development: East meets West at FIAD, Morocco

Leading economic and political players from Africa and beyond, will convene in Casablanca for the 6th International Africa Development Forum – FIAD – a leading investment promotion and intra-African trade development event, taking place on 14 and 15 March.

The Forum, popularly known by its French acronym FIAD, (Forum International Afrique développement), has become one of Africa’s most important platforms for dialogue on South-South and North-South Cooperation.

This year’s event themed “When East Meets West”, is expected to bring together more than 1500 business leaders and decision makers from over 30 African and partner countries.  In light of the current global economic reconfigurations, and the challenges as well as opportunities of the fledgling African Continental Free Trade Area, they will identify concrete levers for enhancing Africa’s development.

They are also expected to develop partnerships, generate trade flows, as well as exploring investment market opportunities during the two days being hosted at Hyatt hotel in Morocco’s biggest commercial city.

The participants will also draw from highlights and successes of past FIAD events which to date, have generated over 17,000 business meetings, linking economic agents, investors, businesses and policy makers – making the forum one of the biggest platforms on African soil, at which influential financial and the economic and political stakeholders come together.

 An initiative of the Pan-African investment fund Al Mada – key shareholder at Attijariwafa Bank Group and its Africa Development Club,  FIAD is held under the patronage of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI.

Key focus points at the Forum, will include discussions on how to accelerate regional integration – particularly between east and west Africa; increasing value creation and standing up for female and youth entrepreneurs.

There will also be an awards ceremony, which will include recognising three African companies that are enhancing intra-African trade through trade relations, partnerships or productive investment in infrastructure.  There will also be awards celebrating the dynamism of young African entrepreneurs.