Marrakech hosts the 2nd edition of the China-Africa Investment Forum, the largest gathering of Chinese and African entrepreneurs

Organised by the Ministry of Industry, Investment, Trade and the Digital Economy, under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and in partnership with “Jeune Afrique Media Group” and “BOAO Business Consulting”, the China-Africa Investment Forum (CAIF) brings together more than 450 top-level Chinese and African business leaders for two days of conferences and business meetings as the New Silk Road is being implemented.

Continuing the momentum created by the 1st edition which was a success due both to the strong mobilization of the leaders of the most prominent Chinese and African companies and to the quality of debates and exchanges, this 2nd edition of the CAIF is a true platform for the development of China-Africa business partnerships.

On this occasion Mr. Elalamy welcomed the Forum as it truly reflects the will expressed at the highest level to deepen the economic dimension of South-South cooperation and to achieve the full potential of the Morocco-China-Africa partnership both at the bilateral and trilateral level. He furthermore added that Morocco intends to play a catalytic role in the new cooperation dynamics between China-Africa and actively participate in the promotion of a balanced, close-knit and inclusive China-Africa partnership; a commitment clearly expressed in the speech of his Majesty the King Mohamed VI at the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa held on 4 and 5 December 2015 in Johannesburg. “The development of China-Africa relations is a strategic choice to which we are committed and deeply attached. Our determination to carry out concerted action and engage in pragmatic cooperation is based on the principles of mutual benefits and shared development” … “A firm believer in the China-Africa partnership, my country is ready to do whatever it takes to strengthen this process and rise successfully to the challenge of building a stable, prosperous Africa together. We should look forward to our common future with optimism because Africa has faith in its capabilities, its resources and its skills”, stressed His Majesty the King.

The high level workshop and meetings organized during CAIF were an occasion to highlight the many opportunities available to operators in sectors of common interest, in particular, industry, infrastructure and renewable energies, and to initiate a discussion on the means of capitalizing on the momentum generated by the New Silk Road initiative and consolidate an already close-knit and multifaceted China-Africa partnership.

This new edition of CAIF focused on subjects such as the acceleration of investments, encouraging partnerships in the new sectors of growth, supporting the co-production and local industrial sourcing, identifying common interests between Chinese investment strategies and African economic priorities, and creating the financial and legal framework which will promote trade and industrial success. These are the main conditions needed to ensure that the China-Africa partnership achieves its full potential.