Morocco participated in the 3rd “Africa Trade & Invest Meets Managing Risk” Forum, which began on Wednesday in Frankfurt to explore business and investment opportunities for German companies in Africa.
Morocco’s Industry and Trade Minister Ryad Mezzour represented Morocco at the forum.
Sponsored by the German-African Business Association (Afrika-Verein), the Africa Trade & Invest Forum brought together German private sector representatives with several delegations from African countries. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud represented Somalia as the guest of honor, Morocco’s Press Agency (MAP) reported.
Speaking at the forum’s opening, Afrika-Verein’s CEO Christoph Kannengiesser highlighted the importance of strengthening Germany-Africa relations to foster shared prosperity. He hopes that German companies will position themselves as key partners in African economies.
Acknowledging the growing challenges to attract investment in an uncertain global environment, Kannengiesser noted Africa’s growth potential and the opportunity for joint solutions in areas like infrastructure, agri-food, renewable energy, and industry.
The CEO also mentioned the strong economic performance of several African countries, which have outpaced growth in developed nations, underscoring the need for close cooperation to address shared challenges.
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud noted the importance of partnerships with Germany for Africa’s economic growth, highlighting areas like knowledge transfer and climate change mitigation. He also indicated the need to enhance investor confidence in Africa to support development and shared prosperity. Mohamud pointed out Africa’s competitive advantages, including abundant natural resources and a young population, making it an attractive destination for foreign investment.
Amid his comments Somalia’s president also said that foreign investors’ perceived risks in Africa are often “overstated,” calling for a new approach that encourages “bold investments.”
Under the theme “Creating the Ideal Framework to Unlock Trade and Investment Opportunities in Africa,” this forum aims to identify necessary regulatory frameworks to increase German business presence in Africa, explore available financing and risk mitigation options, and promote African and German startups. It also claims to address measures to accelerate regional integration and clarify the role of businesses and public partners in this process.
Afrika-Verein is an organization that promotes economic ties between Germany and African countries. It has over 550 members, mainly German companies and institutions, representing about 85% of German business activity in Africa, from startups to major DAX-listed companies.