Talking Points : building private equity and private capital markets in Africa

Abstract

Africa’s transformation calls for us to challenge today’s orthodoxy. One such orthodoxy is on the options for financing development. How can we scale up the role of the private sector in financing development? There is no doubt that Africa offers itself as the next big destination for global investments, including private equity. It has a fast growing economy and solid pro-growth factors such as macroeconomic stability and abundance of human and natural resources to be harnessed. There is need to address the key challenges limiting the growth of private equity in Africa: Negative perceptions from investors on the continent; High cost in raising capital; Low levels of skilled people to deal with private equity issues; and High risk of investment in the continent. in this session to explore key policy actions to be undertaken by governments/private sector so as to put the private equity industry on the path of sustainable growth.