This archive report was first published on 30 August 2019.
On September 4-6, 2019, the World Economic Forum on Africa will convene in Cape Town, South Africa, with over 1,000 regional and global leaders from government, business, civil society, and academia. The meeting's theme is 'Shaping Inclusive Growth and Shared Futures in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.'
The Africa Growth Platform is a new initiative by the World Economic Forum, supported by Alibaba Group, Dalberg, A. T. Kearney, Export Trading Group, U.S. African Development Foundation, and Zenith Bank. The platform aims to help Africa's start-up enterprises grow and compete in international markets by securing commitments from governments to implement policy reforms, building a community of investors, and increasing collaboration and sharing best practices.
According to data, two-thirds of Africa's 420 million young people are currently unemployed, highlighting the need for new solutions to drive employment growth. However, Africa's young population is well-endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, with early-stage entrepreneurial activity 13% higher than the global average. Unfortunately, the region's start-ups are 14% more likely to fail than those elsewhere in the world due to insufficient support and infrastructure.
The Co-Chairs of the 2019 World Economic Forum on Africa are Ellen Agler, Jeremy Farrar, Arancha Gonzalez Laya, André Hoffmann, Alex Liu, Jim Ovia, and Sipho M. Pityana.
