Program Overview

Join a discussion that will explore innovative financial solutions essential for meeting the ongoing demands in infrastructure, and critical minerals. These innovations are vital for supporting smart foreign direct investment and promoting industrial development. The panel will also provide valuable advice for American companies looking to explore export and trade opportunities in Africa as well as exploring the needs of the unbanked to help integrate them into financial systems.

This panel will explore the transformative effects of emerging technologies such as cloud computing, AI, and enhanced internet connectivity. These innovations and complementary policies are vital to support new industries and to provide learning and job opportunities for the growing youth population of Africa. Panelists will present case studies and discuss the opportunities and challenges in technology adoption across Africa, and the potential for cross-border collaborations to drive progress.

Obinna Isiadinso, Global Sector Lead, Data Centers; Senior Investment Officer, Digital Access, World Bank Group Knowledge Bank

The fireside chat will feature senior government officials engaging in an open conversation about the future of trade, finance, and investment in Africa. Panelists will share insights, experiences, and strategies for unlocking the full potential of Africa, while ensuring stability and promoting social and environmental sustainability. The session will be moderated by Prof. Danny Leipziger, GWSB and Managing Director of the Growth Dialogue. Following the session, participants will be able to connect directly with the speakers for further discussion.

Dr. Danny Leipziger, Former Vice President, World Bank; Managing Director, Growth Dialogue; Professor, GW Business School

This panel will focus on the critical components of food security, examining sustainable agribusiness practices and innovative agricultural methods. Topics will include seed innovation, supply chain realignment, distribution strategies, and the value chain. Panelists will explore the impact of smart farming technologies in enhancing productivity, reducing waste, and building a resilient food system, offering solutions to pressing food security challenges across the continent.

Dr. Shahid Yusuf, Senior Economic Adviser, World Bank Group; Chief Economist, The Growth Dialogue

This panel will explore how renewable energy, infrastructure, and transportation intersect to create sustainable communities. Experts will discuss integrating clean energy solutions into infrastructure projects and the role of innovative transportation systems in promoting sustainable growth, job access, and improved spatial allocation of public investment. Panelists will share successful case studies, challenges, and collaborative efforts that demonstrate how these elements can work together to foster sustainable development and enhance community resilience.

Mary Porter Peschka, Director for Eastern Africa Region, IFC

This panel explores the Lobito Corridor, a flagship Global Gateway project and Africa’s first open-access transcontinental rail link connecting the DRC, Zambia, and Angola to global markets via the Port of Lobito. The session will highlight how strategic collaboration between African partners, the U.S., and the EU can drive regional integration through infrastructure modernization, the development of critical raw material value chains, and investments in renewable energy and agriculture. Panelists will examine the corridor’s role in accelerating sustainable economic growth, facilitating smoother trade transit, and creating long-term employment opportunities, offering examples for how corridor and hub projects across the continent can drive mutual prosperity.