GABI Set To Advance Africa’s Role In Shaping Global Business Solutions

Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI) said it will be bringing together leaders from the public and private sectors to advance Africa’s role in shaping global business solutions.

The Initiative made this known at the virtual press briefing held in announcing its lineup for 2024 flagship event ‘Unstoppable Africa: The Solution for a Global Future’. The annual two-day event will hold in New York on September 25 to 26, 2024.

The event will take place alongside the Summit of the Future, a landmark convening of the UN General Assembly. Central to the event is the recent strategic partnership between the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and the African Union Commission, which focuses on leveraging Africa’s business potential to drive sustainable development. This partnership aims to advance Agenda 2063 and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development).

The 2024 GABI event will not only highlight Africa’s economic resilience and vast potential but will also be a platform for presenting novel and practical solutions to some of the most urgent global challenges. From addressing energy transitions and ensuring access to sustainable power, to advancing digital transformation across sectors and promoting inclusive growth, Unstoppable Africa will position the continent as a leader in the global pursuit of a more equitable and sustainable future.

Assistant secretary general, and CEO of the UN Global Compact, which convenes GABI, Sanda Ojiambo said, “with a market valued at over $3 trillion, Africa is poised for unprecedented growth and development. Africa’s GDP growth rate is expected to outpace the global average, with projections of 3.8 per cent in 2024 and 4.2 per cent in 2025.

“GABI was born from a powerful realisation: the world has been doing business in Africa, but not always with Africa. We stand to rebalance that equation. GABI is not just another forum; we are a solution-oriented platform dedicated to shaping Africa’s business future. Our mission is clear: Convene, Connect, Catalyze, and Convey. We convene stakeholders to address Africa’s unique challenges, connect Africa’s private sector with global partners, catalyse sustainable growth through collaboration, and convey support for initiatives that deliver real results.”

She noted that “unstoppable Africa will bring together Africa’s brightest minds and global leaders to collaborate on sustainable solutions. When Africa wins, the world wins. Africa is ready to lead, and GABI is where Africa meets the world’s political, business, and philanthropic leaders.”

Confirmed speakers at the event include: United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres; United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed; founder, CEO, and Chairman, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, among others.

Ojiambo added that “with the right investments, partnerships, and opportunities, Africa’s private sector has the potential to drive significant change in a world that urgently needs solutions.”