A record of 25 years of WEF achievements and progress in Africa
World Economic Forum
WORLD Economic Forum meetings are convened so that leaders can come together to discuss the challenges affecting the global, regional and industry agendas, discern solutions and catalyse collective action in the spirit of public-private co-operation.
The occasion of the 25th meeting of the World Economic Forum on Africa (Cape Town, 2015) allows us not only to do this, but also to look back on the many milestones that have been achieved since 1990.
By learning lessons from the past, and bringing together the greatest minds of the present, the Forum is committed to acting as Africa’s trusted partner in transformation as it faces the challenges that will shape its future.
This is the first of a three-part series.
A partnership for Transformation: 1990-2000
Forum on Southern Africa – October 1990
The World Economic Forum’s first Africa meeting takes place in Geneva, featuring a multi stakeholder cast of participants from business, government and civil society, including many ANC leaders.
The success of the meeting launched a global roadshow – led by Barend du Plessis, then South Africa’s finance minister, and Thabo Mbeki of the ANC – to gain international support for South Africa’s future. This was the first time that the entire South African political spectrum was united behind a common cause.
Forum on Southern Africa – October 1991
The second Geneva meeting on Southern Africa takes place under the theme “Opportunities for Growth and Development in a Southern Africa in Transition”.
Witness to South Africa’s Transition – 1992
South African President FW de Klerk meets with Nelson Mandela and Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi at the World Economic Forum annual meeting 1992 in Davos, Switzerland.
This was their first joint public appearance outside South Africa and a milestone in the country’s political transition.
Mandela chose the Davos meeting to make his first speech on South Africa’s economic future under the ANC and credited the occasion with inspiring his reversal of ANC policy on nationalisation of the mining industry.
Forum on Southern Africa – May 1993
The World Economic Forum holds the first Africa meeting in Cape Town. This was the first visit to South Africa for many Southern African Development Community heads of state. Global Leaders of Tomorrow – 19932003
The Forum launches a new community in response to a perceived need for a new approach to global leadership.
Selected for the inaugural class in 1993 was South African politician Cyril Ramaphosa, current deputy president of South Africa.
The community ran successfully through 2003, during which time many notable African leaders were honoured, including Patrice Motsepe, founder and executive chairperson of African Rainbow Minerals, a co-chairperson of the World Economic Forum on Africa 2015; and Winnie Byanyima, executive director, Oxfam International, who served as co-chairperson at the Forum’s annual meeting 2015 in Davos.
Southern Africa Economic Summit – June 1994
First Southern Africa Economic Summit in Cape Town, coinciding with the emergence of the first democratically elected Government of National Unity in South Africa. Heads of government participating include Nelson Mandela of South
Africa, Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, and Ali Hassan Mwinyi of Tanzania.
Southern Africa Economic Summit – May 1995
Southern Africa Economic Summit takes place in Johannesburg in the wake of the peace agreement in Angola.
Southern Africa Economic Summit – May 1996
Under the theme “Towards a Business-Friendly Environment”, the Southern Africa Economic Summit returns to Cape Town. A South African task force was created as an advisory body to the Forum with the main objective to assist the South African public-private sector in marketing itself and to provide assistance, where possible, to SADC.
Southern Africa Economic Summit – May 1997
The Southern Africa Economic Summit is held for the first time outside South Africa, in Harare, Zimbabwe, under the theme “A New Growth Opportunity”. Nelson
Mandela delivered a special address.
Southern Africa Economic Summit – May 1998
The Southern Africa Economic Summit is held in Windhoek, Namibia, under the theme “Southern Africa Priorities for Global Competitiveness in the 21st Century”. The first Africa Competitiveness Report is launched at this summit.
Global Compact – June 1999
At the World Economic Forum annual meeting 1999 in Davos, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan announces the Global Compact initiative to give “a human face to the global market”.
Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi) – January 2000
At the World Economic Forum annual meeting 2000, World Health Organisation director-general Gro Harlem Brundtland announces the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi). This was the Forum’s 30th annual meeting. For the first time, a US president in office, Bill Clinton, came to Davos, where he was joined by UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Southern Africa Economic Summit – June 2000
Held in Durban, the summit aimed to give economic impetus to the African Renaissance concept and to pursue regional integration priorities.
Among the participants were presidents Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique, vice-president George Saitoti of Kenya, and delegations from Uganda, Ghana and Nigeria.