16th World Economic Forum on Africa

Notable participants

• *Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa
• *Armando Guebuza, President of Mozambique
• *Jakaya Kikwete, President of Tanzania
• *Syamal Gupta, Chairman of Tata International, India
• *Jim Goodnight, Chief Executive Officer, SAS Institute, United States
• *Maria Ramos, Chief Executive Officer, Transnet, South Africa
• *Charles Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria

  Initiatives

• *The African Investment Climate Facility: A new mixed public-private venture was initiated as a mechanism to encourage investment in the continent. The African Development Bank agreed to take the lead facilitating panAfrican infrastructure projects.
• *Changing perceptions of Africa: This initiative was designed to address and improve on the generally negative perceptions suffered by the African continent.
• *Initiative to Reduce Hunger: This proposed "Business Alliance to Reduce Chronic Hunger" was considered as a mixed private-public venture to address "the root problems of hunger."
• *Energy Poverty Action: The Energy Poverty Action WEF taskforce was set up to test a pilot model for developing grid and off-grid electrification for different parts of the continent.
• *"Strengthening Healthcare Systems" proposal: This proposal was designed toward promoting a mixed private-public healthcare system in sub-Saharan Africa.
• *Partnering Against Corruption Initiative: The PACI seeks to curb corruption, by having businesses commit to a "zero tolerance" of corruption.
• *Water Initiative: This initiative was designed to expand private participation in Southern African water resources and needs.
• *Social entrepreneurs: The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship named Sunette Pienaar the South African Social Entrepreneur of 2006.