Previous Editions

The 9^th edition of Forum Afrique Expansion, held this past September 4 and 5 at the Centre Sheraton in Montréal, was a resounding success. As with previous editions, some 500 participants from the African and Canadian business communities attended the gathering.

The edition featured multiple themes addressed by top-tier guest speakers: the business climate in Africa; the African Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA); the challenges of industrialization in Africa; youth and women’s entrepreneurship in Africa; investment in Canada; good governance and business development in Africa; and Africa’s digital economy.

Known for its productive networking sessions, Forum Afrique Expansion this year introduced a new concept to its arsenal: the Dealroom, organized with the support of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal. As the Forum’s president, Amina Gerba, explained: “The Dealroom is meant to bring together project bearers with potential key partners. It is a more targeted, more dynamic initiative designed to favour the signing of agreements between African and Canadian businesspeople.” Indeed, the Dealroom provided major African project bearers a platform for presenting their needs to numerous Canadian companies and organizations.

In keeping with its tradition of innovation when it comes to networking, Forum Afrique Expansion proudly hosted the Québec-Africa Roundtable, presented and chaired by one of the Forum’s government partners, Export Québec. This was an opportunity for other leading African contract givers to be introduced to some 20 Québec-based companies. The meeting, chaired by Québec’s acting deputy minister for International Trade, Yves Lafortune, highlighted the vast potential inherent in doing business with Africa.

Finally, another highlight of the 2019 edition occurred during the Gala des bâtisseurs, when the Forum presented its first award to honour a well-known businessperson for his contribution to Africa’s development. Samuel Dossou-Aworet, president of the Petrolin Group and president of the African Business Roundtable, was the recipient.

Thanks to support from its loyal major partners, who are an essential part of the event’s longevity, and in light of growing demand, this business gathering will now be an annual affair, starting next year. Thus, the 10^th edition will take place at Montréal’s Palais des Congrès on September 23 and 24, 2020.

Forum Afrique Expansion 2017 was an exceptional gathering and confirmed the ever-growing interest of Canadian investors for the African market. Under the impetus of the Forum’s advisory commitee, the organizating committee presented themes that hold promise and are central to Africa’s development. Launched in 2003 as Forum Africa, this biennial event, organized by Afrique Expansion with support from the African Development Bank and henceforth known as Forum Afrique Expansion, has pursued its core mission of providing a networking platform that benefits North American investors and African entrepreneurs alike. More than ever, it enabled Canadian businesspeople and entrepreneurs to showcase their know-how and to find potential partners in Africa.

In what has become a Forum tradition, the event’s organizers selected a featured country: Morocco. The choice was a natural one, given the booming economy of the Cherifian Kingdom. An impressive delegation of over 30 Moroccan businesses attended this unique North American gathering in order to better illustrate the manifold resources and opportunities for exports and investment in the thriving nation.

Quite noteworthy is the growing interest of Canadians for investment in Africa, as evidenced by the nearly 600 B2B meetings held between Canadian entrepreneurs and African businesses—a significant increase from the 400 or so such meetings that took place during the 7^thedition of the Forum in 2015.

The Forum focused on issues for which participants are always pleased to find, from one edition to the next, insight and long-term forecasts. The specific themes covered were “How to do business in Africa,” “Africa’s digital economy,” “Project financing in Africa,” “The electrification of Africa,” “The economic empowerment of women in La Francophonie,” “The case for a Made in Africa label,” and above all, “Business opportunities in Morocco.”

Aside from the many speakers, who are the Forum’s key resources, a number of top-ranking political personalities honoured us with their presence, among them Ms. Dominique Anglade, Québec’s Minister of the Economy, Science and Innovation and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy; Christine Saint-Pierre, Québec’s Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie; Lise Thériault, then Deputy Premier of Québec and Minister responsible for the Status of Women; and Francine Landry, New Brunswick’s Minister responsible for La Francophonie.

 Forum Africa 2015 was the edition that produced the most bilateral meetings and North-South partnerships. The theme, “Investment and Business Opportunities in Africa,” was intended to demonstrate that the African continent could well be the 21st century’s new Eldorado. Many African countries have growth rates near 10%, and some exceed that mark.
Senegal was the featured country for the 7th edition, and on the closing day of the Forum its delegates presented the government’s development plan and its objectives. Delegation head and Senegalese Minister of Economy, Finance and Planning, Mr. Amadou Ba, invited Canadian companies to invest in Senegal.
Québec premier Philippe Couillard spoke before 500 guests on September 17. He emphasized that Africa is poised to play an influential role within La Francophonie in the 21st century.

Forum Africa 2013 was without doubt one of the most successful, if not the most successful, of all the Forums. The theme was “Emerging Africa: Investment and Business Opportunities,” and one of the highlights of the 6th edition was provided by the featured country, Côte d’Ivoire. Its delegation was led by Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan, who reminded those in attendance that important reforms were underway to “improve the competitiveness of the country’s economy and make the private sector the main driver of the nation’s emergence.”
Ivorian officials also made participants discover their country, which is experiencing an economic boom. Indeed, Côte d’Ivoire is one of those countries boasting a growth rate near 10%. That edition’s other highlights included the presence of former Nigerian President from 1999 to 2007, Olusegun Obasanjo. Mr. Obasanjo explained that Africa intended to regain control of its natural resources.

Forum Africa 2011 was marked by the attendance of a large number of African delegates. More than 100 business people and public officials converged on Montréal for the occasion. The success of this 5th gathering set the stage for a synergy that would attract more North American business leaders and encourage organizers to streamline logistics for B2B meetings and other contacts.
Among the speakers was Tim Turner, Director of Private Sector Development for the African Development Bank. He made a strong case for investing in the emerging continent.