February 25, 2016
GE Africa CEO Jay Ireland stands in front of a custom installation at the Bloomberg Africa Business and Economic Summit.
Good data has enormous power to ignite ideas, strategies and economic growth. As the Internet of Things and mobile computing blur boundaries between industries and create unprecedented connectivity around the world, there’s never been a greater need to access data and understand how to apply it to decision-making.
As a data and information company, Bloomberg brought that perspective to its first annual Africa Business and Economic Summit this week. The gathering – helmed by Bloomberg Chairman Peter Grauer, who is also a member of the President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa – inaugurated new discussion and debate about the opportunities and challenges for investment and growth in Africa. Bloomberg’s data and analysis enabled these conversations, driving panels dedicated to such key topics as Africa’s next tech evolution, the future of its workforce and power infrastructure, and the growing startup scene in one of Africa’s major cities.
The Summit’s data-driven discussions also created a unique environment for GE to share Africa-focused data from the GE Global Innovation Barometer, bringing attendees relevant information on how business executives in African countries view the digital revolution’s impact on jobs, work and culture. The research was featured in both custom installations on-site and on-screen between panels, augmenting the Summit’s content with deep insight into areas such as how to create an innovation culture in Africa, what types of skill sets are most sought after, and where the greatest challenges for companies lie.
“Innovation, energy, and entrepreneurship are key themes for both Bloomberg and GE,” said Bloomberg LIVE Global General Manager Stacy Kennedy. “As companies, we share these core values, just as we share a deep commitment to supporting Africa’s economic growth and helping to build Africa’s future. Bringing GE’s research to life at the Africa Business and Economic Summit alongside our content is a forward step toward that goal.”
The Summit convened a diverse set of news-makers, game changers and global CEOs who are highly invested in Africa’s future. Speakers included GE Africa CEO Jay Ireland, Coca-Cola Southern Africa President Therese Gearhart, City of Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille, Symbion Power CEO Paul Hinks, U.S. SEC Commissioner Michael S. Piwowar and many more.
Follow more from the Summit: