Africa Growth and Opportunity: Research in Action
From November 3-5, Palermo, Italy, will become the center of Africa-Europe cooperation as the World Bank Group Institute for Economic Development, the Bank of Italy, Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, and African partners host the Africa Growth and Opportunity: Research in Action conference. Held at the Palazzo dei Normanni, the event is bringing together experts and leaders from Africa, Italy, and Europe to align research, investment, and policy around one goal: creating jobs and opportunity for Africa’s next generation.
Check the schedule and meet the speakers on the AGORA page. Stay tuned for updates from Palermo and join the online conversation using #AGORA25.
AGORA Day 2 Highlights
Today at AGORA, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, delivered the Mattei Lecture on Trade and Investments. She was introduced by Luigi Federico Signorini, Senior Deputy Governor, Bank of Italy.
Discussions in Palermo also focused on energy transformation in Africa. Experts and participants agreed that reliable electricity doesn’t just power machines – it powers jobs.
Mission 300 sets a sure pathway to job creation. In the spirit of the Mattei Plan, and through strong partnerships with governments, other MDBs, the private sector, and philanthropies, we aim to push forward access to electricity in the region. - Guangzhe Chen, World Bank Group Vice President, Infrastructure
A special session on the recently launched AgriConnect connected policymakers, partners, and private sector leaders to explore practical approaches and partnerships to deliver on the ambition.
Young researchers from Africa injected new voices into the policy conversation. They shared data-driven insights on jobs, agriculture, and macroeconomic reform in the region.
AGORA Day 1 Highlights
Florizelle Liser, President and CEO for Corporate Council for Africa, delivered a keynote address on Growth and Opportunity for Africa.
AGORA officially started with opening remarks from local leaders from Palermo and Sicily; Giancarlo Giorgetti, Italian Minister of Economy and Finance; and Luigi Federico Signorini, Senior Deputy Governor, Bank of Italy. The sessions kicked off with the first keynote address from Florizelle Liser, President and CEO for Corporate Council for Africa.
High-level sessions on jobs and growth, investing in energy, and creating partnerships for a resilient and interconnected Africa underscored a shared goal: transforming collaboration into opportunity.
The Vice President of Ghana, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, gave a keynote address on job creation in Ghana and shared about opportunities for her country and the continent.
Partnership must now evolve from rhetoric of assistance to the reality of shared prosperity. Africa and Europe must build together as equals, investing in innovation, technology, and creating jobs. - Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Vice President of Ghana.
A session from the Ministry of Economy and Finance spotlighted two initiatives that reflect Italy’s Mattei Plan vision: Resilient and Inclusive Supply Chain enhancement for green energy transition, and A Roadmap to Connect Africa to Europe for Clean Energy Production.
A fireside chat on Investing in Energy looked at practical building blocks for investments in energy to turn into development opportunities.
The day concluded with Ted-style presentation from African and European entrepreneurs who showcased bold ideas transforming African markets through agri-tech and energy.
