Paul Kagame to Open First African Investment Summit: 5th -6th September 2016

The Global African Investment Summit (TGAIS) that will be held in Kigali, Rwanda on 5th–6th September 2016, has released its confirmed program.

According to it, Rwanda’s President H.E. Paul Kagame will deliver the summit keynote at the opening of the event.

Dr. Sindiso Ngwenya, Secretary General of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) will give the welcome speech.

The full summit program can be accessed here: www.tgaiscomesarwanda.com.

TGAIS aims at promoting trade and investment in Africa’s Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA).

TFTA, Africa’s largest trading block comprising 26 countries, is a free trade agreement between the COMESA, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC).

TGAIS, in partnership with COMESA and the Government of Rwanda, will attract 900 public and private sector leaders, representing USD200b of funds with an interest in the investment, trade and business opportunities arising in the region.

The summit will focus on the development of trade and investment corridors in TFTA, regional infrastructure projects, and the creation of an environment that enables harmonization through policy and regulation.

Dr. Ngwenya, COMESA’s Secretary General, said: “[…] This summit will provide a timely and essential meeting place for Africa’s most senior influencers in government and the private sector to engage with global representatives interested in gaining direct access to the region’s current investment opportunities.”

TFTA was launched in June 2015 with the purpose of driving intra-African trade by creating the continent’s largest trading block with 26 countries and a combined GDP nearing USD1.2tn and a market of close to 620m consumers.