‘Memorablia’ from the World Economic Forum on Africa

The World Economic Forum on Africa 2014 ended on Friday with the announcement of Capetown, South Africa, as the host for the next forum scheduled for June 2015.

Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, Phillip Rosler, declared the event as successful in many standards, noting that the forum received three times more articles compared to the previous year.

“This forum has affected participants in thousands, despite the security challenges; we came here with voices of solidarity because we will never allow security challenges deter us,” he said.

The forum notably got a pledge of $68 billing for the continent, to be invested in agriculture, infrastructure, transportation, information communication technology, education, and skills for job creation.

The forum was monitored by about 2.1 billion, about 30% of the world. On Twitter, it had 4.1 million followers with 1500 re-tweets; while on Facebook, there were 500,000 hits, 1500 likes and 1200 live videos.

It was at the forum that the African Development Bank (AfDB) promised to support visa-free travels in Africa to enhance regional economic integration across the continent.

Also, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, together with Nigerian private sector leaders and with support from Partnering Against Corruption Initiative (PACI), launched the Clean Business Practice Initiative (CBPI), dedicated to combating corporate corruption in Nigeria.

Below are a few memorable quotes from the forum:

Africa represents our fastest-growing region in the world. If you want to be relevant, you need to be in this part of the world – Dominic Barton, global managing director of McKinsey & Company.

Don’t be afraid to invest in Africa – Jean-François van Boxmeer, chairman of the Board and chief executive officer of Heineken International.

Africa is an article of faith. I believe in this continent – Sunil Bharti Mittal, chairman, Bharti Airtel.

Africa is going through growing pains, but the potential is great — Mohamed Alabbar, chairman, Emaar Properties.

This is the right time for anyone to come and invest into Africa  — Stephen Olabisi Onasanya, Group CEO, First Bank of Nigeria.

Africa’s rise will make the world more stable, more democratic, more robust – Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang.

Nowhere in the world do you get the kind of returns you get in Africa – Group CEO, First Bank of Nigeria, Olabisi Onasanya.

Africa has been rising for a long time. I hope we will eventually get to a point where we have risen – Albert Kobina Essien, group chief executive officer, Ecobank Transnational.

As the economies of Africa grow, progressive businesses will grow with them – Jean-Francois van Boxmer, chairman of the Board and chief executive officer of Heineken International.

Africa’s people have taken their destiny into their own hands – China’s Li Keqiang