Africa Economic Symposium

The Africa Economic Symposium is one of the Policy Center for the New South’s major conferences, alongside the Atlantic Dialogues and the African Peace and Security Annual Conference (APSACO). Conceived as a continent-wide annual convening, it brings together leading economists, policymakers, and academics to connect global perspectives with African realities and to foster high-level dialogue on the issues shaping Africa’s economic future. At each edition, the Symposium places the African economy at the center of the agenda, with a focus on macroeconomic stability challenges and a set of selected structural issues that are critical to the continent’s development trajectory. Over two days, the event hosts rigorous thematic discussions that allow participants to share, challenge, and refine their views on policy choices and strategic pathways. This helps clarify the conditions under which Africa can strengthen its resilience and position itself as a new engine of global growth.

At the heart of the AES is the launch of the Policy Center for the New South’s Annual Report on the African Economy, its flagship publication. A dedicated session highlights the report’s latest insights—spanning macroeconomic and sectoral trends, regional integration dynamics, and key policy trade-offs—and brings them into open discussion with all participants.