Lagos — Billed as the "Davos of Africa", the 17th annual World Economic Forum meeting in Africa, scheduled to convene in Cape Town, South Africa next month is expected to help "raise the bar" of development across the continent.
Under the theme "Raising the Bar", the high-level gathering of representatives from governments, business, international organisations, civil society as well as experts will focus on leveraging Africa's increasingly strategic role in the global arena.
It will also feature innovative partnerships to sustain growth, address human and infrastructure capacity constraints, and assess opportunities for an improved African investment climate. Over 700 participants are already scheduled to participate.
Haiko Alfeld, Director and Head of Africa at the World Economic Forum (WEF) said, "Buoyed by strong growth, and on the back of booming commodity prices, improved governance and strong Asian interest, Africa is making its move ... business has much to gain by dedicating skills, technology and resources to ensure this new growth is sustained, and recent African successes are replicated."
Leading political leaders who have already confirmed their participation are: Joseph Kabila, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo; Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa; Levy Mwanawasa, President of Zambia; Bingu Wa Mutharika, President of Malawi; and Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal.
Other prominent figures who will participate are: Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General who is now deeply engaged in African-led development and governance initiatives on the continent and Donald Kaberuka, President, African Development Bank.
As part of the spirit of openness generated by the new Web 2.0 technologies, this year, members of the public have been invited to have a say in a conversation about Africa with world leaders who would be at the World Economic Forum on Africa which will hold between June 13 - 15, 2007.
The idea is for the public to help shape the session and join a conversation about Africa with world leaders at the meetings.
"The World Economic Forum is encouraging people to send in their comments and questions about the challenges facing the world to be put to the leaders who have the power to change it.
"Contributions to a purpose-built website in the weeks before the meeting will shape the focus of a session on the final day of the meeting and selected questions will be aired during the session.
"Those who are interested can upload their questions to YouTube in response to the introduction video (tag: africaconversation). The answers given to the questions will be filmed and reposted to the website and to YouTube after the event. If people cannot make a video but would still like to add a question or comment they can do so by SMS, e-mail, voicemail or by posting on the website", WEF said.
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