Swiss Private Sector Seeks Increased Role in African Development Bank Operations

A high-level meeting between the African Development Bank (AfDB) senior management and a Swiss economic mission, led by Ivo Germann, Director of Foreign Economic Affairs at SECO, highlighted the Swiss private sector's interest in expanding its role in AfDB operations across Africa. The Swiss delegation, including Swiss ambassador Anne Lugon-Moulin and several business leaders, was received by key AfDB officials, including Senior Vice-President Swazi Tshabalala, Vice-Presidents Kevin Kariuki and Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, and various Bank directors.

Convergence of Priorities: Senior Vice-President Tshabalala emphasized the strong alignment between the AfDB's new ten-year strategy and Swiss priorities, particularly in areas like international financial architecture reform, climate change, and employment for women and youth in Africa. Tshabalala highlighted Switzerland's status as a preferred partner of the AfDB.

Swiss Economic Mission: Germann noted that Swiss companies are keen to leverage the convergence of objectives in certain sectors in Africa. The Swiss economic mission, comprising around 15 business leaders, is touring Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal to explore opportunities. Germann praised the AfDB as a valuable partner for Swiss companies, particularly in addressing challenges like industrialization and the informal sector's impact on transparency.

Procurement and Eligibility: Frank Mvula, Director of the Bank's Fiduciary and Inspection Department, outlined the principles governing AfDB's procurement processes, emphasizing transparency, public tendering, and competition. He assured that all opportunities are published and accessible, providing a clear pathway for Swiss companies to engage with the Bank.

Private Sector Engagement: Michael Rheinegger of the Swiss-African Business Circle expressed the Swiss private sector's desire for more focused and in-depth discussions with the AfDB. Vice-President Kariuki invited Swiss companies to explore opportunities in Africa's power, energy, climate, and green growth sectors, emphasizing the continent's vast renewable energy potential.

Strategic Focus on Private Sector: Vice-President Akin-Olugbade highlighted the AfDB's ten-year strategy, which underscores private sector participation as crucial for development projects. She detailed the rigorous project approval process by the Bank's Board, involving comprehensive documentation and feasibility studies at the country level.

Opportunities in Water Sector: Luciano Ferreira of AquaSwiss inquired about opportunities in desalination and water treatment. Aida Ngom, Director of the Private Sector Development Department, cited the Kigali Bulk Water Supply Project as a successful example of a public-private partnership in Rwanda, encouraging Swiss companies to form joint ventures with national firms to enhance visibility and impact.

Support from SECO: Germann's delegation included Adam Baha, SECO Advisor for Africa and the Middle East, and Felix Wanner, Deputy Regional Coordinator for West and Central Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Swiss business representatives attentively noted the guidance provided by AfDB officials.

Invitation to Africa Investment Forum: The delegation was invited to participate in the Africa Investment Forum, a key marketplace for connecting bankable projects with investors across the continent, further solidifying the collaborative efforts between the AfDB and Swiss private sector.

This meeting signifies a pivotal step in strengthening the partnership between Switzerland and the AfDB, with a shared goal of fostering sustainable development and economic growth in Africa.