President of Republic Participates in Africa CEO Forum Opening
His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, participated on Monday morning in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in the opening of the Africa CEO Forum, an economic gathering that brings together more than 2,000 business leaders and policymakers from over 73 countries.
During a panel discussion following the forum’s opening session—attended alongside the Presidents of Rwanda and South Africa and the Vice President of Côte d’Ivoire—His Excellency highlighted key national reforms to support the private sector, which he views as a central driver of growth, job creation, and innovation. He pointed to two major initiatives: a framework agreement signed with the OPEC Fund in January 2024 and the launch of the “DREAM” project with the World Bank in March 2024. He emphasized that growing pressure on public resources necessitates a redistribution of roles between the state and economic actors, with the private sector taking a leading role in development.
In the session titled “Towards a Strong Africa: The Path to Economic, Political, and Trade Integration,” President Ghazouani outlined legislative and regulatory reforms, including a new electricity law, the Independent Power Production Agreement (IPPA), the Integrated Energy Charter, the Offshore Hydrogen Law, and revisions to the public procurement law. He explained that these frameworks enable private actors to generate their own energy and sell surplus to the Mauritanian Electricity Company (SOMELEC) within a regulatory environment designed to foster competition and investment. The goal is to strengthen the private sector’s role in ensuring national energy security and driving economic growth.
As the 2024 Chair of the African Union, President Ghazouani outlined the key priorities guiding his leadership: strengthening institutional cohesion within the Union’s bodies, enhancing the effectiveness of continental governance, and affirming Africa’s role as an independent and influential global actor. He stressed the importance of coordination across all AU structures—from the Assembly of Heads of State to specialized agencies—to effectively meet the aspirations of African peoples in a volatile international context.
The two-day forum aims to lay the foundation for a robust partnership between the public and private sectors in Africa and to reaffirm the continent’s commitment to economic sovereignty.