Date: 28 June 2022, 11:00-17:00 (CEST-1)

Returning, in person, to the City of London on 28 June 2022, our 9th Hogan Lovells Africa Forum, Africa: On the Move, considers what it is going to take to get the wheels of change turning to push the continent towards a sustainable, accelerated growth.

‘Post-pandemic recovery’. This remains one of the most popular phrases when considering Africa’s economic outlook in 2022, and indeed how commentators continue to frame regional analysis globally. Estimations from the IMF point to modest growth from 3.7% this year to 3.8% in 2023, linked to increased inflation rates and an anticipated slowdown in the global economy, overlayed by the impact of geopolitical events outside of Africa. The effects of the pandemic can certainly not be ignored, with the continent having experienced an ‘almost fully synchronised economic downturn in 2020'. Africa’s emergence from recession in 2021 has not only improved sentiments about recovery, it has revitalised and renewed the region’s pre-pandemic optimism; Africa is on the move.

Bright spots are emerging. SME’s are finding increased support as non-banking private lending and debt continues to grow as an asset class. Less resource-dependent markets including Benin, Mauritius, Niger, Rwanda and the Seychelles are set to reach growth levels well above 5% while Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal are set to return to pre-pandemic growth levels. Investment in technology and digital infrastructure has boomed with a record US$ 4.9bn investment in 2021, up from US$2bn in 2022. And this year’s EU-Africa summit held in February resulted in the meeting’s first ever monetary commitment since its inception in 2000 - committing to spend close to US$25bn per year, for the next seven years.

Digitalisation has been an undisputed growth driver, but what is necessary to keep the momentum going? Will manufacturing and trade advance in the face of increasing global supply chain concerns – can Africa leverage this to its advantage? How will the increased global commitment towards ESG imperatives benefit or disadvantage the region as we look toward the first COP event to be held in Africa? And with urbanisation, infrastructure, and power, ever at the centre of the conversation – have priorities changed since the onset of the pandemic?

Join us as we bring together a prestigious line-up of business leaders, key decision makers, and cultural influencers to delve into critical dialogue about Africa’s road to strengthened partnerships, continental synergy, and the actualisation of it’s potential as leading global player.

We hope you can join us.

Please register here.