Eight Heads of State for Africa Now Summit

Eight African heads of state are expected to attend the highly anticipated Africa Now Summit.

The Summit, organised by the Africa Strategic Leadership Centre (ASLC) is scheduled for March 12-13, 2019 at The Commonwealth Resort and Conference Centre, Munyonyo under the theme, ‘Working Towards a Secured, Integrated and Growing Africa.”

Some of the key topics to be discussed include economic transformation, investment, trade and growth and well as (un)employment.

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame (EAC-Chairman), South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa and Egypt’s Abdel Fattah Saeed Hussein Khalil El-Sisi (AU-Chairperson) have already confirmed that they will grace the two-day event to be co-chaired by President Museveni.

“Several African heads of State and various government officials as well as high level representatives from the African Union have been invited,” Dr Robert Mwesigwa, the Board Chair, ASLC told journalists at a news conference to unveil the Summit.

These are expected to be joined by members of the private sector, youth leaders, civil society and public policy experts.

The ASLC is a foreign policy think-tank, which collaborates with leaders from the public and private sectors, committed to Africa’s progress.

“Participants will discuss how to drive Africa’s integration agenda forward using political and economic transformation as tools to safeguard the future of Africa,” Dr Mwesigwa added. “Most importantly, the Summit will facilitate policy dialogue, foster public-private partnerships and assist in the mobilization of resources required to advance Africa’s socio-economic prosperity.”

According to ASLC board member Betty Bigombe, the main objective of the Africa Now Summit, which has partnered with Ethiopian Airlines, is to contribute effectively to the broader conversation around economic transformation, investment and trade growth as well as employment in Africa.

“So many defining moments continue to shape the future of Africa such as the US-China trade war. How are we positioned to benefit from this trade diversion as a continent?” she asked.

“The message is clear, Africa must continually change and adapt into the trends of this fast paced global economy so as to unlock its potential.”

On top of connecting high level decision makers with economic influencers and youth leaders to shape the practical solutions for youth employment, after two days of deliberation, the summit will also have showcased investment opportunities in eastern and southern Africa in industry, energy, infrastructure, agriculture, tourism among others.