BUSINESS REPORTER
The 2021 Africa Investment Forum has been postponed until further notice due to global restrictions following the emergence of the Covid-19 omicron variant, African Development Bank (AfDB) president Akinwumi Adesina has said.
The forum was pencilled to run from December 1 to 3 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The postponement of the event followed consultations between the Ivorian government and the board of director of AfDB.
Adesina said at the premier investment marketplace for Africa, several billion dollars of investment projects were scheduled for investment board rooms with project sponsors and investors at this year’s edition.
“Unfortunately, with rising global travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 Omicron variant, and heightened concerns for health and safety, it is necessary, regrettably, to postpone the event. The health and safety of everyone comes first,” he said.
“The African Development Bank Group and the Government of Côte d’Ivoire wish to thank previously expected participants and delegations and look forward to hosting the event at a future date. We sincerely regret all inconveniences to our esteemed and expected heads of state and government, participants, project sponsors, investors and government delegations.”
The variant, which has been detected in South Africa and Botswana has seen the UK and other EU countries closing their borders for 10 Sadc countries, a move critics said smacks of Afrophobia.
The variant has also been detected in Europe and the Middle East.
