The Africa Investment Promotion Agency Network (AfrIPANet) is a UNIDO Programme that has been established to provide African Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) with a common platform to discuss and design investment promotion strategies. The network aims to build the capacity of African Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) by providing accurate, up-to-date investor information and technical assistance to help them to re-adjust investment promotion strategies towards the implementation of customized business support services to reap the benefits of international investment and link local productive sectors to the global economy.

AfrIPANet was initiated in 2001 and has grown since then from strength to strength, drawing on more participating countries and deepening discussion and debate on investment promotion strategies in Africa. Currently the network comprises a forum of 38 IPAs in Africa.

As AfrIPANet grows and develops, it is becoming increasingly important to formalize the initiative. In the recognition that for further growth and strengthening, an informal network would not suffice, AfrIPANet members agreed on the need to formalize the network to have an identifiable African regional body on investment promotion. 

At its 4th meeting in 2008 AfrIPANet members unanimously adopted a governing instrument, a Memorandum of Association, and elected their first Executives and a Steering Committee. The position of the two Vice-Presidents went to Mr. Daouda Moussa and Mr. Denan Kuni of the IPAs of Niger and South Africa respectively.  The Investment Promotion Agencies of Nigeria, represented by Mr. Stephen Amase, Uganda represented by Professor Maggie Kigozi and Côte d’Ivoire represented by Mr. Daouda Siloue and the Regional Investment Promotion Agency (RIA) of COMESA represented by Mrs. Heba Salama were elected to join the President and the Vice-President in the Steering Committee.

To learn more about AfrIPANet please click here.