ABR drives wealth creation, sustainable change in African private economy

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The African Business Roundtable (ABR) has made resonating impacts over the years and continues to be the force driving change and transformation across Africa. The ABR is involved in the activities of building capacity of indigenous entrepreneurs and it is part of its core mission to shine the face of the African Private Sector and make it attractive for investors around the globe to plunge in their resources which in essence is pivotal to the development of the African Economy.

This has been done and is still being done through partnerships, mentoring, joint ventures and training in the different sectors and industries such as agriculture, technology, finance, energy, education, etc.

An environment has a great influence on the growth and evolution of a business. Hence the ABR is a strong advocate of a conducive environment for businesses to thrive in Africa.

Such an environment enables the private sector actors to play their roles in the economic development of the continent. It will further open Africa up for more favorable businesses and foster wealth creation, employment and sustainable development across the continent.

Thought-provoking dialogue is another medium the ABR employs in proffering solutions and resolutions to the challenges of businesses. This it does by creating platforms for business leaders to converge and rub minds together on issues of common interests and with key decision-makers in the Public Sector and development partners.

Alhaji Yusif Ibrahim, ABR charter member: “Our platform allowed for corporations, businessmen and women and institutions to associate under one umbrella. The ABR envisaged private enterprise-led economic integration and the sustainable development of Africa based on good corporate governance and open market systems. Within the African continent, our organization has evolved to become a forum for dialogue and information sharing among and between businesses. This is applicable for both African governments and respective private organizations within and outside the continent.”

Over the years, these platforms have given attention to the voice of businesses while providing lasting solutions to the issues affecting their growth.

Mr. Goodie M. Ibru, Founding & Principal partner, G.M Ibru & Co: “My journey in the African Business Roundtable has further convinced me that what the African continent needs is a strong and undivided private sector; one that is strengthened and equipped to drive the goal of making African economies to play strong in the competitive global economy. Developments in the international system suggests clearly that the world needs additional poles for global growth and there is a place for Africa there – a place beyond selling of mineral and primary products into contributing to the global value chain.”

The ABR has also engineered the facilitating of trade and the promotion of investments across countries and regional borders. This in turn has fostered regional integration through the provision, rehabilitation and maintenance of infrastructure, which includes the development of ports and marine transportation, road construction and maintenance, the rehabilitation of rails and dry port construction, and of course air transportation.

The integration also involves the congenial collaboration with the Regional Economic Communities in Africa (such as ECOWAS), the Development Finance Institution (such as AfDB), and Development Partners (such as the EU).

These organizations have played pivotal roles in collaboration with ABR in the development of transit corridors, the promulgation of regional cabotage law in the ECOWAS region to enhance maritime feeder services.

Alhaji (Dr) Bamanga Tukur, President Emeritus & Grand Patron, African Business Roundtable: “ABR is true to the mission of transforming the economy of Africa and its impact over the years cannot go without mention. Yet, we are not lowering our laurels as we are willing and ready to do more, making our contributions significant across the continent in the development of Africa we are proud to call home.”

www.abrnetwork.org

About the African Business Roundtable

The African Development Bank Group set up the African Business Roundtable in 1990. Today the ABR is Africa’s foremost and continent-wide association of businesses and business leaders, and is the representative of the African Business Society to the United Nations. An independent, non-partisan, non-profit private sector funded organization, The African Business Roundtable is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) and is the only organization representing the African Private Sector within ECOSOC.