Africa Day is an international conference, organised annually by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, within the framework of the Bled Strategic Forum and in collaboration with the International Center for Promotion of Enterprises, Club of Former Slovenian Ambassadors, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia and International African Forum. The conference has been held every year since 2012 and is intended to celebrate the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity/African Union.
Slovenia will host the next conference on 18 and 19 May 2017 at the Brdo Congress Centre near Ljubljana. The conference will be opened by the highest representatives of Slovenia. The moderated panel sessions on the first day of the conference will focus on three topic areas, with participants addressing numerous current challenges and opportunities for the African continent, and sharing initiatives with a view to strengthening relations between Slovenia and African countries.
The panel sessions will deal with the following issues:
- Youth and Job Creation
- Economic and Cultural Networking in African Countries
- EU-Africa: Common Challenges and a Shared Vision
Slovenia’s ambition is to enhance bilateral ties with African partners, with a particular emphasis on economic cooperation. African countries are transforming very rapidly, upgrading their infrastructure, enhancing environmentally sustainable industrial production and striving for better digital connectivity. Ongoing changes present great potential for cooperation. We believe Slovenia can offer many answers and solutions to the specific needs of African partners in many fields. In this context, the second day of the conference will focus on growing economic and investment opportunities in African countries, which will be presented by African delegations, as well as on cooperation with the relevant Slovenian companies through B2B meetings.
Representatives of political, business, academic and cultural life from African and European countries, as well as members of the diplomatic corps and international organisations are invited to take part at the conference, which will also be open to the wider public.
The conference will be complemented by a cultural and academic programme highlighting the rich heritage and contemporary culture of Africa.
More information available via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.