CGECI ACADEMY 2023: THE ABIDJAN PORT AUTHORITY AS A PARTNER

Autres Friday 15 December 2023

The 11th edition of the CGECI Academy opened its doors on Thursday 26 October 2023, at the Palais des Congrès of the Sofitel Hôtel Ivoire, in the presence of a number of illustrious personalities. HEM. Olusegun OBASANJO, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, HEM. Pedro PIRES, former President of Cape Verde, and HEM. Haile Mariam DESSALEGN, former Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, graced the opening ceremony with their presence, alongside the Vice-President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, HEM. Tiéméko Meyliet KONÉ, the Ivorian Prime Minister, Mr. Robert Beugré MAMBÉ, and several members of the government.

The CGECI Academy 2023 was held over two days on the theme of "Sustainable Business Growth in Africa - Focusing on Competitiveness", and brought together more than 2,000 participants, including decision-makers from the public and private sectors, founders, company directors and young entrepreneurs who are making a significant contribution to the vitality of the Ivorian economy.

The Abidjan Port Authority (PAA) was a partner of the event and had a stand to present its assets and raise awareness of its role as a catalyst for the national economy.

The repercussions of the war in Ukraine, persistent high inflation, tougher policies, limited access to finance, insufficient energy resources, disruptions to supply chains and geopolitical tensions are all having an impact on companies' international trade. These are all obstacles to the vitality of companies in Côte d'Ivoire, and they were the reason for our reflection. In such a context, how should companies adapt to ensure their long-term survival?

In his address, Mr. Ahmed Cissé, Chairman of the CGECI, stressed the need for businesses to innovate and reinvent themselves, in order to be more productive and competitive, and therefore more resilient. The gap between Africa and other regions of the world, such as South-East Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, is particularly wide when it comes to the business environment, in this case governance, infrastructure and human capital.

To this end, he recalled the leading role played by HEM. Olusegun Obasanjo in the emergence of Africa's national champions, and shared his vision of Africa's ability to reduce this glaring gap, given its development potential: "Africa needs its national champions to emerge. But it's not the responsibility of other people to do it for Africans. It's the African businessmen who have to do it for themselves. We are capable of having African national champions in many fields", he quoted the Statesman as saying.

In his speech, Mr. Souleymane Diarrassouba, Minister of Trade, Industry and SME Promotion, thanked the Vice-President for the vigorous actions carried out under the High Authority of the President of the Republic, HEM. Alassane OUATTARA, who gives pride of place to the private sector in his vision of society, "For a united Côte d'Ivoire." He went on to emphasise the key role of the private sector in the sustainable development of economies, given its capacity to create wealth and jobs, while preserving natural resources, biodiversity and the climate.

He also welcomed the choice of the topic, which is timely and of vital importance, as it raises the issue of competitiveness as a factor in the sustainable growth of African businesses, in a global context marked by political, geopolitical, health, security and climate crises.

However, he concluded by highlighting four major challenges: investment to strengthen the integration of companies into regional and continental markets, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA); improving quality as a tool to accelerate industrial and manufacturing consumption; strengthening the capacity of companies through support and financing; and lastly, digitalisation.

Before officially opening this 11th edition, the Vice-President of Côte d'Ivoire, HEM. Tiéméko Meyliet KONÉ, invited African companies to increase their resilience in order to guarantee their long-term survival. To help them rise to the challenge of competitiveness and structural transformation, he advocated the establishment of a favourable business environment, simplified administrative formalities and legal and judicial systems. But also equal access to services such as energy and transport, with a view to considerably reducing the costs of factors of production.

Finally, he pointed out that African businesses should have easier access to financing and modern economic infrastructures such as ports and communications networks.

These are just some of the issues that were explored over the two days, through panels and round tables, by speakers who are experts in their respective fields, including Mr. Hien Yacouba SIÉ, Managing Director of the PAA.

It should be noted that over the years, the CGECI Academy has established itself as a leading platform for discussion and reflection on contemporary challenges and growth opportunities that will transform the future of the private sector and African organisations.