The dates have been changed to coincide with the 14th AGOA Forum, the first time this Forum has ever been held in Central Africa. Gabon was chosen as the host nation for the AGOA Forum, which is a US government initiative to expand trade with Sub-Saharan Africa. The NYFA will serve to highlight business and economic opportunities across the whole continent alongside the AGOA discussions about US-Africa trade.
The Gabonese government decided to combine the two global events to capitalise on the presence and reach of thousands of economic and business leaders who will be together in Libreville for days of discussion and debate.
"We were delighted to be chosen as the host nation for the AGOA Forum; running the two events together was the natural conclusion," Bongo said.
"While the falling oil price comes at a time of increasing investment into infrastructure projects, it is vital we maintain the economic diversification programmes we have put in place to reduce our dependence on oil revenues. Increasing trade with the West and continuing to attract investment through high-visibility gatherings such as the AGOA Forum and the NYFA are essential."
More than 1,500 business and political leaders are expected to attend this year's NYFA. The theme of the Forum is 'Invest in the Energy Continent'; it will focus on the new dynamism in the continent, from entrepreneurs and inward investment, as well as the growing energy sector. Key topics include: economic dynamism; energy sector opportunities; entrepreneurship and enterprise; job creation and economic diversification; education and innovation.
African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) was signed into law by President Clinton to expand and deepen trade and investment relations between sub-Saharan Africa and the United States, and to encourage economic growth and development.
"Holding the two events together is a terrific opportunity: this will really increase the scope of discussions at the NYFA, giving us access to an unprecedented level of US public sector officials and CEOs, while delivering the quality of content for which the NYFA has become known in its three editions to date," Richard Attias, founder of the New York Forum, said.
The NYFA is composed of vibrant, action-orientated debates and panels, as well as sector-specific breakout sessions and workshops. In addition, the NYFA 2015 will again host the Marketplace, a virtual and traditional meeting-place for participants to book one-on-one meetings with Gabonese stakeholders as well as international corporations, which will increase in size for NYFA 2015.
