The Creative Economy

At the center of long-standing debate is whether emigration from Africa has caused the continent more harm than good. According to reports, more than 70,000 skilled people leave the continent annually yet foreign inflows to the continent from Diasporan remittances have grown exponentially in the last decade to reach more than $50 billion each year. Beyond remittances, research has also shown that continuous engagement with the Diaspora can accrue additional benefits to the continent through increased trade, investment and knowledge transfer. Moreover, the Diaspora is also believed to have played a major role in promoting the adoption of African music and shaping the narrative of Africa on the global stage. This panel will discuss how Africa can strengthen its ties with the large Diasporan community around the world and foster deeper connections for mutual benefit. Does every country need a “Beyond the Return" campaign like Ghana or are there other creative levers the continent can pull to better engage its Diasporan community?

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There is a lack of focused discourse highlighting innovation in exceptional talent identification and development in Africa. There is an urgent need to harness/unlock the potential of Africa’s demographic dividend by way of its youthful population. This panel will seek to learn from a diverse set of entrepreneurs at the forefront of reimagining how we educate the world’s youngest population. We will explore how for- and non-profit models face incredible opportunities and challenges as they scale across borders on the continent.

Doing business in Africa is tough work – myth or fact? It’s no doubt that African countries vary in terms of ease of doing business based on a myriad of factors. This panel will engage private investors, operators and public actors to unravel the nuances of investing on the continent and explore how to navigate an ever-evolving regulatory landscape. What are the key considerations for private players who want to set up operations in a country? What is the government's role in increasing the volume of local and international investments in African countries? How is the private sector innovating to collaborate with governments on investment promotion and policy? What do the private actors want from the government? What does the government feel its responsibility is? How do these overlap? How can we continue to drive dialogue that ensures alignment of incentives in doubling down on Africa’s growth