The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, WTO, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, will headline the seventh Africa Emerging Markets Forum in Abuja, as policymakers, economists and business leaders gather to discuss how African economies can withstand growing global economic uncertainty.
The two-day forum, scheduled for July 29 and 30 at the CBN headquarters, is being organised by the Central Bank of Nigeria in partnership with the Emerging Markets Forum, EMF, and the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa, CSEA.
It will bring together senior government officials, central bankers, development institutions, private sector executives and scholars from across Africa and other parts of the world to examine policy options for strengthening the continent’s economies.
According to the organisers, this year’s forum is themed “Building Resilience Amidst Geo-economic Uncertainties”, reflecting the growing challenges facing developing economies as global trade, investment flows and international relations continue to evolve.
A major feature of the event will be a fireside conversation between Cardoso and Okonjo-Iweala, where both leaders are expected to discuss ways African countries can build stronger, more resilient economies, sustain ongoing reforms, deepen regional integration and create conditions for long-term economic growth despite increasing fragmentation in the global economy.
The organisers said the forum will also feature keynote addresses by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, and the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Kingsley Udeh.
They are expected to examine how fiscal policy, monetary policy and technological innovation can work together to accelerate Africa’s economic transformation and improve its ability to withstand future economic shocks.
Among other distinguished participants expected at the event are the World Bank Group’s Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics, Indermit Gill; the Founding Director and Chief Executive of the Emerging Markets Forum, Harinder Kohli; the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Professor Adamu Ahmed; as well as senior policymakers, academics, development partners and business leaders from within and outside the continent.
Over the two-day meeting, participants will deliberate on a broad range of issues affecting emerging economies.
Discussions will cover macroeconomic stability, regional economic integration, cross-border payment systems, financial technology, infrastructure financing, foreign direct investment, technology transfer and the growing role of artificial intelligence in economic development.
The programme will also examine food price volatility, inflation and the effectiveness of monetary policy in fragile and post-crisis economies.
The organisers said the forum is intended to create an open platform for discussions on issues of strategic importance to emerging markets and developing economies while identifying practical policy solutions that individual countries can adapt to their own economic realities.
They added that the event reflects the shared commitment of the Central Bank of Nigeria and its partners to strengthen regional cooperation, promote evidence-based policymaking and encourage innovative approaches that will improve Africa’s resilience while supporting sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
