How the private sector can help realize the aspiration of the world's largest single market?

In Rwanda’s newly constructed Convention Centre, and under the patronage of His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, delegates will explore how the public and private sectors can work together to help realise the aspiration of Africa's largest single market.

The forum provides a rare opportunity for government heads, global investors, and public and private sector to network and discuss the keychallenges and opportunities surrounding a variety of business sectors including tech, energy and infrastructure.

African investment opportunities are gaining popularity as conversations about the continent now shift to a focus on economic growth, opportunity and democratic progress. According to the latest figures from the World Bank, the African continent has become the second most attractive investment destination, with foreign investment hitting a record $60 billion dollars, leading Africa to be referred to as the new China.

The Global African Investment Summit COMESA & Government of Rwanda (TGAIS-COMESA Rwanda) will launch its first edition of the event in Africa, taking place in Kigali, Rwanda on the 5^th and 6^th of September 2016.

The programme agenda will closely reflect the ambition of the landmark Tripartite arrangement of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), East African Community (EAC) and Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). Launched in June 2015, the arrangement is aimed at driving intra- African trade by creating the continent’s largest trading block, with 26 countries, a combined GDP nearing $1.2 trillion, and a market of close to 620 million consumers.

Established in October 2014, the summit has rapidly developed into a market leading investment platform: the December 2015 event which took place in London attracted over 1,500 delegates who control over US$425 billion of funds, and achievedtangible results in the form of deployed investment, letters of intent and MOUs between government and investors.