Welcome to the AFRO • ARAB • ASIAN SUMMIT!
Few people realise that the economies of the East once were the dominant economies
of the world. Few people know that at one point long before Western and European arrivals –
some 700 to 800 years ago – there were very close commercial and trade relations between
Asia, the Arabs and Africa in the Indian Ocean Region.
These are the starting realities of this Summit. First we will look back. And then we will look
forward – China and India are emerging as world economic players. In fact, The Economist
(26 January 2008) says: “The world’s economic balance is tilting from rich industrialised
countries to emerging markets. Their share of world output in 2006 was just below half, and
rising. The International Monetary Fund reckons that in 2008 China and India will be the
largest contributors to worldwide growth for the first time.”
Trends indicate that trade and investment growth in Africa is shifting from the developed to
the developing world and in particular to the Asian and Arab countries. Will the 21st Century
be the Century of the emerging markets?
Summit Objective
Set against this background, the AFRO • ARAB • ASIAN SUMMIT is a strategic gathering of
business leaders, political analysts and economists from all three regions with the objective to explore and discuss latest trends in trade and investment flows between Africa, Arab and Asian economies. The Summit will look at strengths and weaknesses of each region and analyse case studies of trend-setting interregional investments and increasing trade relations. The revival of ancient ties between Africa, Arabia and Asia and the growing influence of emerging markets in
the world have a profound impact on today’s business strategies and the development of Africa.
Event Structure
The core of the event will be a two-day Summit with more than 300 delegates including
plenary sessions, panel discussions and break-away workshops on numerous topics in the
field of trade, tourism and investment in the Indian Ocean Region. An opening banquet is to
take place on the evening before the start of the Summit. The Summit is envisaged as an
annual event rotating between the three regions.
