BUSINESS REPORTER
The African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI) is set to hold its upcoming Annual General Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, next month, the pan-African multilateral trade an investment insurer has said.
The event is scheduled to take place from July 5 to 7 and is expected to comprise the 23rd Ordinary Annual General Meeting of shareholders and an Investor Roundtable.
The Roundtable will discuss Africa’s trade and investment risks under the theme: Re-thinking Risk.
Enabling Finance, against the backdrop of the continent’s economic fallout stemming from the Covid-19 scourge, the negative consequences of Russia – Ukraine war, and climate change.
“Several countries have emerged from these headwinds with a huge debt load, putting them at a risk of debt distress.
Consequently, some sovereigns have defaulted while others are struggling to service their debt and moving closer to default. Clearly, there is a need for faster and innovative solutions to sustainably manage Africa’s debt problem.
There is also the issue of climate change which continues to impact negatively on many African economies.
“Africa needs to find a right balance between its immediate development needs and mitigating climate change,” said Manuel Mose, ATI chief executive officer.
“It’s therefore our hope that the roundtable discussions will come up with tangible solutions to these challenges and a way forward,” he said.
During the event, ATI is also expected to unveil its new brand identity as the organisation positions itself to play a major role in the continent’s development.
“We believe that the new brand will provide a better fit to ATI’s growing stature as the largest provider of investment and trade credit insurance on the continent with the ultimate goal of accelerating its impact on Africa’s development,” Mr. Moses said.
Finance Ministers from at least 21-member countries, institutional shareholders, Regional and International Investors, Insurers, Financiers, and other governmental and non-governmental entities are expected to attend.
The Chairman of ATI’s AGM and Rwanda’s minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Uzziel Ndagijimana, commended ATI for choosing the country to host its 23rd AGM, and noted that the Rwandan Government was pleased with ATI’s support to member countries.
