Africa CEO Forum 2025 Convenes in Abidjan: Rethinking the Public-Private Compact for Africa’s Future

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Africa CEO Forum 2025 Convenes in Abidjan: Rethinking the Public-Private Compact for Africa’s Future
KONTAKT | May 14, 2025

The Africa CEO Forum 2025, co-hosted by Jeune Afrique Media Group and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), took place on May 12–13 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The event brought together over 2,000 decision-makers, including heads of state, CEOs, investors, ministers, and representatives of development institutions from more than 75 countries, all united by a shared goal: shaping a more competitive, integrated, and resilient African economy.

This year’s theme, “Can a New Deal Between State and Private Sector Deliver the Continent a Winning Hand?”, addressed the urgent need for renewed partnerships and trust between African governments and the private sector. The forum provided a platform to reimagine growth models in the face of tightening global economic conditions, declining aid flows, rising debt servicing costs, and a shifting geopolitical landscape.

A Platform for Solutions and Strategy

The forum opened with candid assessments of Africa’s current economic trajectory and the limitations of traditional development models. Leaders across sectors agreed that Africa can no longer afford to rely on outdated frameworks. Instead, participants explored bold, incentive-driven industrial policies, greater support for SMEs, and reforms to remove barriers to private sector growth.

Key sessions focused on:

  • AI-Powered Governance: Examining how artificial intelligence can enhance transparency, streamline public services, and enable smart decision-making.

  • Energy Transition: Discussions on decarbonization, investment in renewables, and how to ensure energy access for all without compromising growth.

  • Regional Trade and Supply Chains: Emphasizing the importance of AfCFTA and how localized value chains can drive job creation and resilience.

  • Public Finance and Local Capital Markets: Exploring pathways for mobilizing domestic financing and reducing overreliance on foreign debt.

Driving the Private Sector Forward

Amir Ben Yahmed, President of the Africa CEO Forum, called for an urgent shift in mindset and policy:

“Africa’s private sector is a driving force—adaptive, innovative, and dynamic. What we need now is a political and regulatory environment that enables it to thrive. The time for half-measures is over.”

Business leaders also underscored the need for governments to act not just as regulators but as enablers—committing to reforms that foster innovation, protect investment, and empower African businesses to scale.

A New Chapter in Africa’s Economic Development

As the forum concluded, the message was clear: the future of Africa’s development lies in a new social contract—one in which states and private actors work in tandem to deliver shared prosperity. The Africa CEO Forum reaffirmed its role as a premier space for thought leadership, investment dialogue, and continental cooperation.

📎 For more details and highlights, view the full report here: View the original report