The eagerly awaited African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) Conference is set to foster collaborations among African securities exchanges, to drive growth and modernise capital markets across the continent.
Hosted by the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE), the conference will begin with the ASEA Executive Committee Meeting on November 27. This will be followed by two days of intensive discussions on November 28 and 29, held at the prestigious Royal Aria Conference Centre.
His Excellency Dr. Mokgweetsi E.K. Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana, has been invited to officially open the conference. His Excellency Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, will deliver the keynote address. Mene’s role in shaping the future of African trade, along with his deep understanding of the interconnection between trade, investment, and market development, will provide invaluable insights to the audience.
Neo Mooki, Chairperson of the BSE, expressed optimism about the potential for strategic partnerships and agreements to emerge from the conference. “We anticipate the implementation of actionable insights and projects, as well as increased investments into Africa,” Mooki said. “If we are speaking about innovation, it should position Africa at the forefront of attracting more investments.”
The BSE is hosting the ASEA Conference for the second time, having previously done so in 2019. That event resulted in a key agreement to support the creation of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and sustainability guidelines across Africa. Several countries have already benefited from these partnerships. Acting BSE CEO Kopano Bolokwe commented, “We launched our own sustainability disclosure guidance in Botswana as a result of this collaboration.”
Expanding ESG and Capacity-Building Initiatives
Bolokwe emphasised that this year’s event presents an opportunity to engage new CEOs and explore cross-listing opportunities, skill transfer, and product collaboration. BSE recently partnered with Risk Insights to launch ESG ratings, providing ratings for listed companies via a subscription-based platform. This service not only reveals ESG information but also offers business intelligence and guidance on improving ESG practices and standards.
“We plan to showcase this platform across Africa and compare Botswana’s companies with their counterparts on the continent,” Bolokwe said. “We anticipate an increased uptake of this product, with more listed companies subscribing.”
Botswana: An Investment Haven
Mooki also highlighted Botswana’s reputation for political stability, sound governance, and a business-friendly environment. The country’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals, underpinned by prudent fiscal and monetary policies, have earned it an international reputation as a safe investment destination.
“Our robust infrastructure, which includes well-developed telecommunications, road networks, and financial systems, positions Botswana as a gateway to the Southern African region,” Mooki noted. “This makes it an ideal destination for investors looking to tap into one of Africa’s most dynamic and stable markets.”
A World-Class Event with Global Participation
This year’s ASEA Conference is expected to be even more impressive, drawing top industry leaders, market participants, and thought leaders from across the globe to Gaborone. Mooki emphasised that the lineup of speakers includes representatives from leading global institutions such as the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and various member exchanges from across Africa.
“The diversity of our speaker roster guarantees rich discussions, offering actionable insights that will propel Africa’s capital markets forward,” she said. “Policymakers, thought leaders and stakeholders from across the continent will also be in attendance, fostering meaningful collaborations and sharing knowledge to shape the future of African finance.”
Conference Theme and Agenda
The theme for this year’s conference, “Fostering Transformation in Capital Markets through Innovation”, resonates with the evolving needs of African capital markets and will guide discussions throughout the event.
Delegates will participate in presentations, panel discussions, and thought-provoking sessions on critical topics over the two-day conference. Some of the key discussions include:
- The Future of Capital Markets: A Provoking Prediction by Thought Leaders
- Innovations Needed to Democratise and Customise African Capital Markets: Solutions for the Continent
- Digitisation and AI in Business Operations: Revolutionising Trading and Analytics
- How Technology Can Enhance Market Efficiency and Transparency to Help Exchanges Achieve Their Development Objectives
- Strategies for Attracting Investment Flows into African Markets
- Accelerating the SME Development Agenda in Africa
- Regulation as a Key Driver of Innovation in African Capital Markets: Lessons from Other Markets
- Key ESG Factors on the Radar of African Markets
- Updates on the African Exchanges Linkage Project, a major initiative to deepen cross-border trading in Africa
Registration and Payment
Registration for the ASEA Conference 2024 is now open and can be completed through the official conference website: www.aseaconference2024.co.bw. Payment options include card and bank transfers, with an automatically generated invoice providing all necessary banking details. This dual-option payment system ensures flexibility and convenience for both local and international delegates. The technology supporting this process guarantees the highest standards of efficiency, reflecting the innovative spirit of the event.
Sponsors and Media Partners
- Gold Sponsors: Letshego Africa Holdings Limited and CMA Small Systems
- Associate Sponsors: CA&S Group, Access Bank Botswana Limited, Sefalana Holding Company Limited, Infotech, Choppies Enterprises Limited
- Bronze Sponsors: Nasdaq, Botswana Investment & Trade Centre, ARQA Technologies, SeedCo International Limited
- Internet Sponsor: Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited
- Media Partners: Business Weekly & Review, Gabz FM
