On the initiative of the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), various stakeholders from the German private sector met on 27 September 2022 for a round table with Ahunna Eziakonwa, Deputy Administrator and Regional Director for Africa at the UNDP, at the premises of the German Africa Foundation. The exchange focussed on the question of how investments can promote entrepreneurship and innovation for sustainable development in Africa.

At the beginning of the discussion, Ahunna Eziakonwa presented the UNDP’s new strategy for Africa 2022-2025, which is made up of six approaches: Poverty and Inequality, Gender Equality, Energy, Environment, Resilience and Governance. The subsequent discussion focussed on the role of trade and investment in promoting entrepreneurship and innovation for sustainable development in Africa, which includes the transfer of knowledge and professional skills related to key technologies and innovation. In addition, the representatives of the German private sector present were able to share their experiences, challenges and wishes regarding cooperation and investment on the African continent and put forward ideas that were discussed for improvement.

The roundtable showed that the German business community’s interest in Africa, both from the public and private sectors, has grown, as well as the desire to increase the footprint of German companies in Africa. Ahunna Eziakonwa made it clear that the UNDP is ready to take on the role of facilitator to promote co-creative solutions and partnerships between the German and African business communities.