Looking back at Africa 2015's pitfalls and opportunities as a springboard for Africa 2016

Africa 2015 Prospects, Challenges and Opportunities

The world Bank and their Japanese counterparts organised an interesting event last year, which in essence sets the stage for Africa. Haleh Bridi, the Director for External Relations and Partnerships, Africa Region, World Bank made very interesting remarks on Africa 2015: Prospects, Challenges and Opportunities

Africa’s decade of economic growth has energized the continent with a sense of optimism about its future.  However, as the World Bank’s recent Global Economics Prospect indicates, growth in the region is forecast to slow to 4.2 percent in 2015, and be only marginally higher in 2016.  This is largely due to the end of the commodity boom and continued slowdown in the global economy.  The priorities for the continent remain to sustain growth and reduce poverty, while facing challenges of climate change, new threats to stability, and the risks posed by communicable diseases.   But opportunities also exist, and increasingly Africa is seen as an investment destination, not solely as a recipient of development assistance.