‘Africa shouldn’t miss out on Digital Revolution’, say business leaders at OIF forum at Expo 2020 Dubai

Africa might have missed out on the Industrial Revolution, but it should not miss out on the ongoing Digital Revolution, the Organisation Internationale De La Francophonie (OIF) forum concluded today (22 February) at Expo 2020 Dubai.

During ‘Challenges and Opportunities for International Investors in a Rapidly Changing Francophone Economic Space’ at Club 2020 by Emaar, continental business leaders noted that Africa now has a developed workforce capable of enabling the continent to be at the forefront of the digital age.

Mounir Mouakhar, President, Permanent Conference of African and French-speaking Consular Chambers, said: “African countries now have many opportunities because they have very competent people, very qualified persons in the several fields. We expect that all African countries can take part in this Digital Revolution.”

Investors look into a country’s human resources, Mouakhar said: “They look at universities, training facilities, economic environment and dispute resolutions.”

Laurent Vigier, Executive Chairman, Five Capital, who is a member of the steering committee of the French-speaking Nations Business Forum, said: “Digitalisation is offering vast opportunities. Language and culture will be very important for francophones.”

The OIF represents countries and regions where French is the customary language and where a significant proportion of the population are francophones.

There are an estimated 300 million French-speaking people globally – with a sizeable amount in Africa, comprising a young, educated and dynamic population. About half of the 54 countries in Africa are OIF members.

Text, images and video: Expo Dubai 2020.