On the sidelines of the World Bank and IMF Spring meetings, African Leadership magazine hosted African finance leaders, policymakers, investors, and stakeholders at the prestigious United States Senate Russell Office building for the annual African Finance Leaders’ Networking Cocktail recently.
Under the theme “Collaborative Finance: Strengthening Partnerships for Economic Growth and Resilience,” the African Leadership Organization brought together minds dedicated to shaping Africa’s economic destiny.
Africa’s economic outlook was nothing short of promising, with real GDP growth projected at 3.8% in 2024 and 4.2% in 2025, positioning the continent as the world’s second-fastest-growing region! However, confronting challenges such as geopolitical tensions and infrastructure deficits necessitated collaborative action.
Throughout the evening, participants engaged in vibrant discussions, exploring challenges, and seizing opportunities. From empowering SMEs with access to capital to advancing financial inclusion and closing the infrastructure gap, the forum ‘s collective efforts were aimed at sculpting a brighter economic future for Africa.
It was an evening brimming with dialogue, collaboration, and the forging of partnerships, punctuated by special presentations by the Hon. Aaron Maniago, Xavier Underwood from the Office of Senator Tim Scott, Rep Rosalyn Henderson- Myers of South Carolina House of Representatives and Madame Franya E. Cabral Ruiz on behalf of Dr. Ken Giami the Chairman of the African Leadership Organization. Together, Africa can drive substantial change, creating impactful investment opportunities that resonate across the continent.
Some of the distinguished finance leaders included:
🔹 Mr. Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, Minister Of Economy, Finance And Industry, Djibouti.
🔹 H.E. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, Minister of Planning and Economic Diversification, Equatorial Guinea.
🔹 Mr. Abdirahman M. Abdullahi, Governor, Central Bank Of Somalia.
🔹 Dr. James Alic Garang, Hon. Governor, Bank Of South Sudan.
🔹 Óscar Humberto Évora Santos, Bank Of Cape Verde.
The presence of the leaders underscored their collective commitment to Africa’s prosperity, resilience, and a future of shared growth and opportunity.
