European Development Days 2016: promoting digital single market in Africa

African digital market

Digital development should be put at the heart of the EU’s aid policy, the Commissioner for the Digital Single Market, Andrus Ansip, said at the European Development Days “Digital technologies' contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals” debate.  “New information and communications technologies play a central role in development” Bibi Ameenah Firdaus, the president of Mauritius, said at the opening ceremony.

African investment plan

The European Commission confirmed that it hopes to launch an investment plan to tackle the causes of migration from Africa. The Africa Investment Plan – to be implemented largely in Africa – would leverage public funds to mobilise €60 billion of private investment, Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen said at the EDD debate on New financing models for a new development agenda.

Speakers

The European Development Days 2016 drew over 500 speakers and prominent decision makers, including representatives of international organisations such as Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations Secretary-General, Jim Yong Kim, the President of the World Bank Group, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women and numerous Heads of State, including Uhuru Kenyatta, President ofthe Republic of Kenya, Bibi Ameenah Firdaus Gurib-Fakim, President of the Republic of Mauritius, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, President of Burkina Faso, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, President of the Central African Republic, Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of Samoa, Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Rui Maria de Araújo, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, along with many others.

If you would like to organize and event during the next year’s edition of Development Days, or know more about business opportunities in Africa, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

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