A dynamic platform to Mobilize African resources and Green Industries for Sustainable Development Investments across the continent
Africa supplies 40 per cent of the world’s natural resources and accounts for less than 3 per cent of carbon emission. All nations on their path to achieving economic growth and dominance have and continue to include Africa in their wealth building equation. Hence, Africa the world’s supplier is ripe for a global paradigm shift, towards value adding green investment opportunities through: (a) sustainable development and investments (b) balancing human ecology with the natural environment (c) and business and economic environment.
Africa continues to enrich the value chain of nations that comes its way to better their countries’ experiences and natural resource needs, and to balance their consumption in the delicate value chain of nature in pursuit of national development and personal freedom for their people. It all comes from Africa’s resources. Yet, Africa has many challenges as it labours to supply the nations of the world agriculture, industries, natural resources and trade, skilled labour, art, music and culture.
Having identified the gap in the value chain to be bridged to create a virtuous cycle of reinvestment between African countries using the bottom up approach, Corporate Africa and ICCouncil deem the moment appropriate for the Africa Green Investment Gateway . The event will be the first of its kind to be held under the patronage of the United Nations, and Africa Union, to match African corporations and heads of states with CEOs of American Corporations and other investors. The intention is to encourage a meeting of minds to explore green investments that could mitigate climate change and global warming without impeding national economic growth and development. Among the outcomes expected from the conference are capacity building, and infrastructure development, to enable sustainable development investments to take hold, and to support African governments to enhance the quality of life of their citizens. It also plans to educate and illuminate leaders of international investment firms about the impact of global warming and climate change upon the environment and economies of Africa, and to motivate appropriate responses from them, in terms of lasting partnerships and collaborations for green technology investments.
By harnessing the private sector and international markets for global green investments in the direction of environmental, social, and economic development, Africa could become the continent of the future. Some of the salient features of this conference are to stimulate investment through the bottom up approach by promoting communities, development of social entrepreneurs, and strengthening SMEs to connect back into the value chains of local, regional, and national economies: consolidating the economies of communities from the bottom up and creating a virtuous cycle of reinvestment and development of the business environment for further growth of the private sector.
- Investments are needed in low carbon economic infrastructure, such as hydroelectricity, improve access to arable non-forested land, and improve fiber optic bandwidth to facilitate development.
- Investments are needed in high potential low carbon sectors, such as fruits and vegetables, aquaculture, honey cultivation, and harvesting, business process outsourcing, sustainable hospitality, and resort and ecotourism.
- Reform of existing forest-dependent sectors, including forestry and mining, where necessary, so that these sectors can operate at the standards necessary to protect Africa’s forest and natural landscape.
- Expand access to services and create new economic opportunities for African local populations and local entrepreneurs through improved social services, low-carbon energy sources, clean water and employment, which does not threaten forests.
- Improve services to the masses by aiming to increase the quality and value of life, including improving and expanding job prospects; promoting private sector enterprise, and improving social services with particular focus on health and education
- Investments in renewable energy, alternative energy, tidal technologies - Africa is surrounded by six bodies of water - solar, wind, agricultural research, green technology, infrastructure development, and heavy industry equipment for agriculture; farming to benefit local populations, enable and develop African entrepreneurs and strengthens the role of SMEs.
- Investment in education, health and sports
- Investments in arts, culture, and music programs and projects
GOAL
At the core of the conference is an international platform upon which green investment technology can take centre stage, and representatives from African nations and Fortune 500-American corporations and other investors can engage each other for joint exploitations.
Expected Outcome
An outcome expected from the event is the enlightenment of leaders of investment corporations and national and regional policy makers about the importance of green technology in combating climate change across Africa. And further, to match commercial leaders with respective African countries in the areas of environmental, social and economic development investments. Matches predicated upon compatibility in pursuit of implementable infrastructure, aided by Departments of Sustainable Development Investments, global green investments, Sustainable Development Investment toolkits, systems, and Sustainable Development Advising and Planning Teams across African countries and at the United Nations and African Union.
