90 years of the German-African Business Association - A proud member celebrates

On 14 May, I not only had the honour of taking part in the 90th anniversary celebrations of the German-African Business Association, but was also able to call myself an official member for the first time.

I would therefore like to take this opportunity to introduce the association and its crucial role in promoting economic relations between Germany and Africa.

Strong network, significant results 

The German-African Business Association has been supporting companies in their business activities on the African continent for almost a century. As a non-profit organisation, the association now has over 550 members. These are made up of a wide range of stakeholders: from German, European and African companies to institutions and private individuals.

The German members include no less prominent names such as Deutsche Bank AG, Sunfarming GmbH, Commerzbank AG, Genesis Energy Group, Bayer AG, Siemens AG, Allianz SE, BASF South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Robert Bosch GmbH and Deutsche Lufthansa AG. The association thus represents around 85 per cent of German companies operating in Africa, covering the entire spectrum from innovative start-ups to large DAX-listed corporations.In addition, the Africa Association comprises 50 partner institutions in Germany and 47 partners in 33 African countries.

Initiatives and projects with vision

One outstanding event was the G20 Investment Summit 2018, which was organised by our association and at which German Chancellor Angela Merkel personally launched a billion-euro fund for Africa. This major event marks a milestone in the history of the Africa Association and highlights our ongoing commitment to the continent's economic development.An important project that is close to my heart is the "Africa Association Women In Power (AVWIP) - The International Network of Women in Business". This network aims to connect committed female economic players from Africa and Europe and strengthen their position in the economy. Through this commitment, we want to make an active contribution to gender equality and the promotion of women in leadership positions.

I find the Africa Association's dissociation from any racist and right-wing extremist ideas outstanding and unfortunately no longer a matter of course these days.

What the Africa Association offers

The German-African Business Association thus not only acts as a bridge between German and African business representatives, but is also the first port of call in Germany for business information and establishing contacts. Regular events - from cross-industry conferences to specific country dialogues and business missions - create platforms for fruitful exchange and sustainable business relations between Germany and Africa.

In regular meetings and consultations, the Africa Association represents the interests of its members at all political levels and is strongly in favour of an opportunity-oriented Africa policy. Its aim is to make Africa's diverse opportunities visible and to make it easier for German companies to enter these dynamic markets.

For further information, I recommend the Africa Association's website and the YouTube video on the 90th-anniversary celebrations, which provides more in-depth insights into the association's activities.

In conclusion, I would like to emphasise once again how proud and grateful I am for the opportunity to be part of the German-African Business Association. Thank you very much for the cooperation, the many inspiring discussions and, of course, the fantastic 90th anniversary celebration.