Melbourne to host 600 businessmen, innovators at Africa Australia Summit
Chukwumerije Aja, Enugu
No fewer than 600 African private sector executives, investors, business leaders, innovators, manufacturers, and multilateral stakeholders, are expected to gather in Melbourne, Australia for this year’s Australia-Africa Business Summit scheduled to hold from May 12th to May 14th, 2024.
The summit, which is being organised by the Australia Africa Chamber of Commerce(AACC), aims to bring Africa to the forefront of the Australian trade and investment focus.
Speaking with Voice of Nigeria Correspondent in Enugu via zoom, the President of the AACC, Duncan Harris, disclosed that the summit would afford participants the opportunity to explore investment opportunities and strengthen business relationships between Africa and Australia.
He said the over 600 participants in the summit would be drawn from all the participating African countries and Australia, noting that the event is designed to facilitate in-depth discussion about the state of bilateral and multilateral trade as well as to provide practical insights for those seeking to enter markets.
According to Harris, the summit, entitled: “New Bridges, Creating Connections”, aims to encourage both African and Australian communities to explore new opportunities and maximise existing ones between the two regions.
He expressed optimism that new connections and relationships between Australian and African governments and businesses with significant economic benefits for both regions would be part of the several positive outcomes of the summit.
While noting that the organisers were already in partnership with the heads of mission of about 20 African countries, who were helping them seek out the business partners, Harris disclosed that at the end of the summit, there would be a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to spell out the partnership and the steps towards building it.
Harris said: “The Australia Africa Business Summit will be an electrifying and transformative event that will bring together visionaries, innovators, and industry leaders from Australia and Africa. It will serve as a platform where powerful partnerships will be forged, groundbreaking ideas will be shared, and the future of business collaboration will be shaped.
“With a focus on trade, investment, and economic growth, this summit will be where opportunities will meet ambition, creating a vibrant atmosphere of possibility and potential.
“We believe that the Australia Africa Business Summit represents a golden opportunity for individuals and businesses eager to tap into the burgeoning potential of Australia-Africa business relations.”
He listed areas of focus, where decision-makers, senior executives, and international trade experts spanning diverse sectors will be available to share ideas to include agribusiness, mining equipment, technology and services (METS), digital trade, energy, green technology, healthcare, education, manufacturing, tourism and financial services.
He therefore urged African countries to take the advantage of the summit to enjoy the extensive networking opportunities the summit would offer.
“Beyond networking, the Summit also provides a platform for knowledge sharing, gaining insights into emerging trends, and understanding the complex dynamics of Australia-Africa trade relations
“Whether you’re seeking business partnerships, investment opportunities, or simply want to stay ahead of the curve in international trade developments, the Australia Africa Business Summit is an event you won’t want to miss,” Harris said.
