The Lomé Container Port, Togo. One of the most promising sectors for German-African partnership is transport infrastructure development, according to trade and investment experts / Photo: AUMC

German-African Business Summit opens this week

The 2nd German-African Business Summit (GABS) takes place in Nairobi, Kenya from 8 to 10 February 2017.

The first edition of the event, held in Berlin in September 2015, provided a forum for some 400 participants from the worlds of business and politics, from Germany and Africa, to discuss Africa’s prospects and potential and to make new contacts.

In his keynote address two years ago, German Foreign Minister Steinmeier outlined the challenges and opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa. He encouraged the participating participants to invest and explore the chances of doing business in Africa. 

GABS is taking place in Africa for the first time this year.

The Summit is co-organised by the Sub-Saharan Africa Initiative of German Business (SAFRI) – which is jointly funded by the German-African Business Association, the Federation of German Industries, the Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services and the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry; and the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Kenya. The event is supported by the Federal Government of Germany and the Federal Foreign Office, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Among other activities, the GABS in Nairobi will feature:

  • Meetings of senior managers of German and African companies and decision-makers from politics and public administration from Germany and Sub-Sahara Africa.
  • Opportunities for B2B meetings at which participants can discuss business prospects in Africa and Germany and lay the groundwork for their next business deals.
  • Lectures and panel discussions on economic growth and opportunities in Africa, regional integration, financing, start-ups and success stories.

The 2nd German-African Business Summit will be opened by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Kwame Appiah

Check Also

Pipeline projects threaten rights of Tanzanians and Ugandans — warns European MP

Although Total Energies has promised the affected farmers compensation for the loss of their land, little or nothing has reached them so far. Opponents of the oil projects are considered enemies of the government and are subjected to threats, arrests and imprisonment.