Choiseul Rabat Forum highlights Africa’s leadership in global value creation

Nearly 800 global executives gathered last week at the Choiseul African Business Forum, held at the Rabat Marriott Conference Center in Morocco’s Agdal district. The event, which brought together decision-makers from more than 60 countries, emphasized Africa’s emergence as a key player in global value chains, transitioning from a destination for investment to an equal partner in co-creating value.

A vision of co-creation and sovereignty

The forum echoed a unified message: Africa’s future lies in fostering collaboration, innovation, and economic sovereignty. Morocco’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, captured the essence of this vision, stating, “Made With Africa embodies this new rule of chosen sovereignty. It invites us to co-industrialize, co-innovate, and co-export, capitalizing on our resources, talents, and know-how. Together, we have everything: energy, resources, youth, markets, and ambition.”

Leaders from Africa, the Gulf, and Europe convened to design competitive, inclusive, and sustainable economic models, placing African economies at the heart of global value creation. Young innovators and executives shared their contributions to the continent’s transformation into a global economic powerhouse.

Building a network of young African leaders

Pascal Lorot, President and Founder of the Choiseul Institute, highlighted the forum’s role as more than a conference: it serves as a platform for identifying and supporting young leaders. “We launched the African platform twelve years ago, which now includes over 1,200 ‘Choiseulians’ across 51 of Africa’s 54 countries,” Lorot explained.

The network brings together accomplished individuals under 40, fostering collaboration and innovation. Business connections flourish when these leaders converge at events like the annual forum, which has been hosted in Morocco for the past four years.

Morocco: Africa’s gateway to global markets

Morocco’s role as a continental leader was a recurring theme at the forum. The country has positioned itself as the “Gateway to Africa” for international investors, leveraging its political stability and advanced infrastructure to drive regional integration.

King Mohammed VI’s “Atlantic Initiative,” launched in 2023, underscores this strategy, aiming to deepen ties between the Atlantic and the Sahel regions. Key projects include the $25 billion Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline and a deep-water port in Dakhla. Morocco has invested nearly $5 billion in sub-Saharan Africa over the past decade, making it the largest investor in West Africa and the second-largest intra-African investor overall.

Delegates from the EU and Gulf states also participated, with Lorot noting Morocco’s unique position as a bridge between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.

Innovators and trailblazers

The forum celebrated the achievements of young African innovators. Fatoumata Sonko, a co-founder of Senegal-based Patat’Innov and winner of the Hackathon Nutrition program, showcased her work in creating affordable, nutritious baby food using local ingredients like sweet potatoes and moringa.

Abir Leheta, CEO of Egytrans and one of Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen of 2025, received the Grand Prix Choiseul Africa for her contributions to transport and logistics in Egypt. Meanwhile, Ivoirian financier Stanislaus Zézé was named Choiseul Africa Leader of the Year for his leadership of Bloomfield Investment Corporation, the first credit risk rating agency in West Africa.

The path forward

The forum reinforced Africa’s growing role as a global trendsetter rather than a follower. Local Moroccan companies such as Aba Technology, OCP Nutricrops, and SMIT Tourism partnered with the event, further highlighting the country’s leadership in fostering collaboration between Africa and the rest of the world.

Looking ahead, the next Choiseul African Business Forum may once again take place in Morocco, although the exact location remains unconfirmed. As Lorot concluded, “The Africa of ‘doing’ is asserting itself as a power of balance and innovation. It no longer follows the world’s movement: it leads it. Through Choiseul, we aim to support, structure, and grow this movement.”