Cairo, 17 June 2022 – The next edition of the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) Weekend will be held in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire taking place 25-27th November 2022, said Professor Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), who described the creative industry as a bankable market.
Addressing participants at the 29th Afreximbank Annual Meetings (AAM2022) in Cairo, Prof. Oramah said that the creative industry had the power “to catalyse intra-African trade, create millions of jobs for the continent’s young population, and promote the emergence of national and regional value chains.”
He hailed the power of creatives to spur industrial development, and said that Afreximbank instituted the CANEX programme to support Africa’s creative and cultural industries in a manner that would revolutionise the continent’s untapped talents.
“The CANEX programme represents an opportunity to unlock the best of Africa,” said Prof. Oramah as he gave assurance of Afreximbank’s continued support to the creative economy. He encouraged the youth of Africa to attend. “Come to us. We will support you.”
Mrs Kanayo Awani, Managing Director of Afreximbank’s Intra-African Trade Initiative, said: “The cultural and creative industries have merged to create one of the most dynamic sectors of the global economy.”
AAM2022, which runs through Saturday, 18 June 2022, is being held under the theme ‘Realizing the AfCFTA Potential in the Post-Covid-19 Era by Leveraging the Power of the Youth’.
The meetings are being attended by business and political leaders, banking industry professionals, trade and trade finance practitioners and other parties involved in economic development from across Africa and beyond. The Meetings have been ranked among the most important gatherings of economic decision makers in Africa.