Spain will be the voice of Africa in Europe

The Africa Spain Business Summit is a meeting and networking space aimed at promoting economic cooperation between Spain and Africa. The second edition of the event, held in Barcelona, ​​was inaugurated on the afternoon of July 9 by the city’s mayor, Jaume Collboni. It was attended by the most represented institutions, such as Foment del Treball and the Port of Barcelona.

Hassan Alaoui, President of One Africa, the event’s organizing entity, highlighted Spain’s importance for Africa’s development: “We are here to learn and share with our Spanish colleagues ideas and opportunities on how to strengthen ties and promote business between Spain and Africa.”

Alaoui noticed that “it is an open invitation for Spain to join mobility and the African way. This high-level summit is an opportunity for Spain to build strong links with the continent and explore win-lose alliances on various issues of common interest.”

Diego Martínez Belío, Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, congratulated the president of One Africa “for an initiative that is fully in line with the strategic framework in which we aspire to place relations with Africa. It is a strategic framework that we are updating in these months and which is based on the partnership between Spain and Africa, or, by the same token, between Spaniards and Africans.”

Martínez stressed that the initiative of this forum is part of Spain’s cooperation strategy with Africa, based on mutually beneficial partnerships, mutual respect and dialogue between equals: “Spain should make greater efforts to strengthen and diversify trade and investment with Africa, avoiding focusing on specific products, raw materials and countries.”

The Secretary of State confirmed that Spain is taking action to fulfil the commitments and goals set out in the African Union’s Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063 and is ready to work closely with African countries to achieve sustainable and equitable economic growth.

He also reaffirmed the intention of the Spanish Government to maintain and prioritise cooperation with Africa, to pursue the development of the social and solidarity economy, to support the African Continental Free Trade Area and to promote the partnership between Spain and Africa.

“Africa is and will remain an absolute priority in Spanish foreign policy, with the country working to strengthen the African Continental Free Trade Area and responding to the legitimate aspirations of African youth,” he concluded.

The presentation was also attended by Raquel Gil, Councillor for Economic Promotion and Employment at the Barcelona City Council, and Ramón Palou, Vice-President of the International Commission for the Promotion of Work.

Palou noted that “Africa is not only a continent rich in natural resources, but also a land of enormous potential and opportunity. Looking to the future, it is becoming increasingly clear that the economic and social prosperity of Spain and the European Union is inextricably linked to the growth and development of Africa. We need each other across sectors, from trade and investment to technology and education.”

Palou encouraged participants to “use this moment to strengthen our bonds and build solid cooperation. The Africa Spain Business Forum is a unique platform for dialogue, cooperation and action. Together we can harness the potential of our mutual opportunities for social and economic development and create a better future for our nations and our citizens.”

Geopolitical landscape

Abdou Souleye Diop, Managing Partner of Mazars, then spoke about the geopolitical panorama of Africa: “We are talking about a very large continent, with 54 countries, 2,000 languages ​​and more than 3,000 ethnic groups. In terms of economic prospects, there are many challenges in Africa, but also many opportunities to be seized.”

Diop also spoke about sustainable development, which is very important for Africa: “There are many renewable energy and sustainable development projects involving Spanish companies that have a lot to offer.”

On the issue of security, the Forvis Mazars partner stressed that “There are many threats and risks on the continent: terrorism, organized crime. The political landscape has changed a lot in recent years, with stronger governments and empowerment of citizens.”Diop concluded by saying that “Africa is looking for global partnerships that go beyond one-off aid. We need sustainable investments, stable partnerships for sustainable development with other countries. And for that we need mutual respect and, above all, transparency.”

Teresa Guardans, co-founder of Oryx Impact, explained for her part that “We have a very diverse portfolio and we are committed to increasing intra- and intercontinental trade by supporting local talent. There are many success stories to share. Investors and policymakers have a unique opportunity to contribute to Africa’s development and now is the time to do so.”

Opening session

This was followed by the first roundtable discussion of the day entitled “Understanding the forces shaping African markets and unlocking opportunities for investment and trade.”

The meeting was attended by: Bruno Nabagné Koné, Minister of Construction, Housing and Spatial Planning of Côte d’Ivoire; Jean Lucien Bussa, Minister of Foreign Trade of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Jacqueline Adiaba-Nkembe, President of COSUMAF; Lluís Salvadó Tenesa, President of the Port of Barcelona; Albert Alsina, Founder and CEO of Mediterrania Capital Partners; and Abdou Souleye Diop himself of Forvis Mazars.

Albert Alsina announced himself “believers in Africa. The risks that are perceived in Africa are greater than they actually are, which is why forums like this are needed to bring the reality closer. You have to understand the risks, and to do that you have to rely on local partners. There are risks related to liquidity, exchange rate and political risks.”

Santiago García-Milá, Deputy Director General of the Port of Barcelona, ​​stressed that “Africa is developing and there are many opportunities, and the maritime sector is playing an increasingly important role. Spain and Africa are connected by the Mediterranean Sea, and because of the problems in the Suez Canal, more and more companies are choosing the route around Africa and entering through the Strait of Gibraltar, which means we have increasingly better relations and cooperation with African ports.”