G20 partnership with Africa – dialogue at the highest level

Sustainable development, employment and economic participation – those are some of the challenges that many African countries are facing. The G20 states – the world's largest economic nations including the European Union – would like to help the continent find solutions to these challenges. That is why Africa is a priority of the German G20 Presidency in 2017.

Against this background, about 750 experts and high-level representatives from the fields of politics and business are meeting in Berlin on 12 and 13 June. Discussions will focus on investment, and private investors and policy-makers will have the opportunity to gain insights into the conditions in different African countries.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will open the conference, which is hosted by the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Nine of the participating heads of state and government are from Africa, including Alpha Condé, who is also Chairperson of the African Union.

The importance of private investment for Africa's development is the focus of the first conference day. Federal Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble and Federal Development Minister Gerd Müller will meet African ministers and chairpersons of international financial organisations to discuss how best to support private investment and investment in Africa's infrastructure.

Deutsche Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann will open the second day of the conference, which will be followed by discussions on various topics in working groups. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH will also be taking part. Together with other participants, Tanja Gönner, Chair of the GIZ Management Board, will be discussing the topic ‘Investment in fragile states, investing in peace and stability – crisis prevention and stabilisation in Africa’.