Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio will serve as the at the International Forum on African-Caribbean Leadership New York 2022 (IFAL), according to a Twitter post by the African Leadership Magazine.

The event will take place at the Iconic Harvard Club of New York, USA on 21 September 2022.

President Bio will join other keynote speakers like: H.E. Emmerson Mnangagwa – President of Zimbabwe; H.E. Mario A. Caetano Joao – Honourable Minister of Economy and Planning, Angola; H.E. Ralph Gonsalves – Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grandines; and Gen. William E. Ward – fmr. Commander of United States Africa Command.

The Theme for this year’s event is: “Redefining Trans-regional cooperation for Sustainable Peace and Development”.

EVENT BRIEF

The inflationary pressures caused by the lingering pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and current global geopolitical tensions have directly affected nations, especially African Caribbean countries’ ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, address economic challenges and its many threats to the peace and stability of the regions.

As terrorism, transnational organized crime, drugs and human trafficking, failure of critical health infrastructures, and other challenges continue to impact nations’ abilities to drive prosperity and advancements in achieving sustainable development in its economic, social and environmental dimensions, the need for strategic cooperation becomes imperative. In addition, leaders from developing, nations have long given voice to standing systemic imbalances between the status of developing nations in global affairs and the rest of the more ‘developed’, especially in the areas of Defense and security cooperation, UN Security council membership, multilateral commitments towards addressing uneven impacts of climate change on the continent, among others. It is therefore important for African and Caribbean governments and leaders to reassess their roles in the international system with a view to increasing partnerships and collaborations towards achieving peace, prosperity and sustainability for all.

In light of this, the 8th edition of the International Forum on Africa-Caribbean Leadership would be a platform that will connect African and Caribbean leaders, local and international companies, institutional partners and all relevant stakeholders to reassess its place in global peace, prosperity and development architecture, as well as push forward with commitments and partnerships to power the social, economic and environmental sustainability of the regions.

KEY EXPECTED PARTICIPANTS

• Heads of States and Governments

• Heads of relevant Regional and Trans-regional bodies

• Senior Government Officials and policy leaders

• Heads of Multi-lateral agencies, Missions and Civil society

• Major Industry Titans, Leaders, and Key Stakeholders

• Think tanks, Industry Experts and International Development Institutions

• Academics, Researchers, and Research Scholars

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• High-Level Plenary

• Keynote Presentations

• Panel Discussions

• Countries Trade & Opportunities Showcase

• Networking Sessions

• Unveiling of the Special Event Edition of the African Leadership magazine

• International Press Room & Global Coverage

• Presentations of the Caribbean and African Leadership Awards