Absa Africa Financial Markets Index 2021
Since its launch in 2017, the Absa Africa Financial Markets Index has shone a crucial light on the opportunities for investment in region. As Africa looks to build back better after the Covid-19 crisis, the 5th edition of the index, compiled by OMFIF, is more important than ever. It is a vital part of policy-makers’ and market participants’ toolkit in this process and a benchmark for international investors looking to commit to the region.
Recent progress in building robust financial markets in the region helped many countries withstand the economic shock, but it also revealed that there is still a lot more room for improvement. Countries’ immediate need for resources to support fiscal policies during the crisis and the rapid withdrawal of international capital emphasised the importance of building local markets with sufficient depth and liquidity to withstand external shocks.
The events of the past two years also heightened awareness of climate change, and the power of capital markets can be harnessed to achieve efforts to combat it. As a result, this year’s pillars incorporate indicators that gauge how financial markets in the region are incorporating sustainability considerations.
The index, produced by OMFIF and sponsored by Absa, records the openness and attractiveness of 23 countries across the continent to foreign investment based on six pillars:
- Market depth
- Access to foreign exchange
- Market transparency, tax and regulatory environment
- Capacity of local investors
- Macroeconomic opportunity
- Legality and enforceability of standard financial markets master agreements
Accompanying the index will be a complementary digital interactive databank that allows users to compare the overall scores and positions on individual pillars in 2021. Access to the databank will be automatically emailed to all report downloaders.
Download last year’s report and watch the event here.
Speakers:
Modupe Famakinwa
Head of Funding
Africa Finance Corporation
Caroline Abel
Governor
Central Bank of Seychelles
Charles Russon
Executive, Corporate and Investment Banking and Acting Group Executive
Absa Regional Operations
Jason Quinn
Interim Chief Executive Officer
Absa
Jeff Gable
Head of Macro and Fixed Income Research
Absa
Moses D. Pelaelo
Governor
Bank of Botswana
Stefan Nalletamby
Director, Financial Sector Development Department
African Development Bank
Anthony Kirui
Director, Head of Global Markets, Absa Regional Operations and Head of Global Markets
Absa Bank Kenya
Further speakers to be announced
Timings:
13:00-14:30 (London)
08:00-09:30 (New York)
20:00-21:30 (Singapore)
14:00-15:30 (South Africa)
In partnership with:
This meeting will be on the record.
This virtual discussion is part of the OMFIF Sustainable Policy Institute. The SPI is a high level community which brings together central banks, sovereign funds, public pension funds, and their counterparts in asset management, banking and professional services to explore policy, regulatory and investment challenges posed by environmental, social and governance themes. See more information on OMFIF’s SPI here.
