Heads of State and officials pose for a photo during the opening ceremony of the 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, May 12, 2025. The 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum opened on Monday in Abidjan, under the theme "Can a New Deal Between the State and Private Sector Deliver the Continent a Winning Hand?" (Photo by Yvan Sonh/Xinhua)
ABIDJAN, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum opened on Monday in Abidjan, under the theme "Can a New Deal Between the State and Private Sector Deliver the Continent a Winning Hand?"
Nearly 2,500 business leaders and public officials from more than 75 countries are participating in this annual gathering, which aims to establish a new pact between African states and businesses to accelerate the continent's economic transformation.
The two-day event is focused on efforts to improve governance, optimize public policies, and accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
At the opening ceremony, President of Cote d'Ivoire Alassane Ouattara called on African decision-makers to rethink the frameworks of collaboration between the private and public sectors.
He said that the transformation of African economies must, among other priorities, be based on mastering digital technologies, including artificial intelligence. He called for a committed effort to develop concrete, ambitious, and contextually appropriate solutions to help foster the next generation of African champions. ■
Rwandan President Paul Kagame (L), Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara (C) and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa attend the opening ceremony of the 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, May 12, 2025. The 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum opened on Monday in Abidjan, under the theme "Can a New Deal Between the State and Private Sector Deliver the Continent a Winning Hand?" (Photo by Yvan Sonh/Xinhua)
Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara (L) meets with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during the opening ceremony of the 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, May 12, 2025. The 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum opened on Monday in Abidjan, under the theme "Can a New Deal Between the State and Private Sector Deliver the Continent a Winning Hand?" (Photo by Yvan Sonh/Xinhua)
Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara speaks during a presidential panel at the opening ceremony of the 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, May 12, 2025. The 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum opened on Monday in Abidjan, under the theme "Can a New Deal Between the State and Private Sector Deliver the Continent a Winning Hand?" (Photo by Yvan Sonh/Xinhua)
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (L) meets with Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye during the opening ceremony of the 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, May 12, 2025. The 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum opened on Monday in Abidjan, under the theme "Can a New Deal Between the State and Private Sector Deliver the Continent a Winning Hand?" (Photo by Yvan Sonh/Xinhua)