May was a busy month on the continental stage. Two of Africa’s most significant business gatherings, Africa Forward in Nairobi and the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, brought IBL leaders to the heart of the conversations shaping the continent’s economic future.
In Nairobi on 11 and 12 May, Arnaud Lagesse, Group CEO, Patrice Robert, Deputy Group CEO, and Michel Pilot, COO of IBL East Africa, represented the Group at Africa Forward.
The summit brought together leaders to explore sustainable partnerships between Europe, the Indian Ocean and Africa, the transformation of the agricultural sector, and the role that regional platforms can play in opening new economic corridors.
Additionally, Pierre Egot, COO of IBL Energy, took part in sessions organised by the French Foreign Trade Advisors. Arnaud Lagesse also joined the Africa France Impact Coalition, a group of around thirty African and French CEOs working together to build a shared roadmap for stronger North-South partnerships.
In Kigali on 14 and 15 May, IBL was represented by Arnaud Lagesse, Patrice Robert, Michel Pilot, Pierre Egot, Cédrik Le Juge, Group CFO, and Andréas Von Paleske, CEO of Naivas. The Forum was a chance to connect with the business leaders, institutions and partners who share a long-term commitment to shaping Africa’s economic future, and to take stock of where those shared ambitions might lead.
For the Group, building a presence in Africa has never been simply about deploying capital. It is about staying the course, understanding markets deeply and earning the kind of trust that takes time to build. These two summits were a step forward, not a finish line. The work ahead is to turn promising conversations into real partnerships, and shared ambitions into projects that create lasting value.
