The recent annual conference of the AVCA in Addis Abba created the ideal opportunity for Executives in Africa to travel to the continent’s second most populous Country and meet with a number of Clients who have invested in or have operations based there.

This year’s event, billed as the largest Private Equity gathering globally, brought together over 400 delegates, who, as well as networking, had the opportunity to hear form the industry leaders on topics such as; The State of Private Equity in Africa, Powering Africa’s Infrastructure, Energy & Renewable Sectors, Investing Sustainably in Africa and Developing Capital Markets & Other Exit Routes in Africa.

Ethiopia is seen by both the investment and the business community as a location which is increasing in importance and is providing a financially attractive, stable and is also an interesting place to invest.  Along with a number of other African Economies, the Ethiopian Government has a clear strategy to encourage investment in sectors that can both best serve the local population as well as produce exportable goods and services that are able to generate foreign exchange, in the case of Ethiopia these are notably within manufacturing, infrastructure and agriculture.

“Whilst this was a superb opportunity for both Edward King and myself to meet with Private Equity Firms & Venture Capitalists at the Conference, we also were able to meet with a number of Clients at their offices in and around Addis” said Richard Putley, Managing Director.  “When we are mandated on behalf of a Client it is critical for us to be able to speak with personal and first-hand experience of what it is actually like to live and operate within this vibrant city.”

Having completed a number of Executive Searches within the country in the last 12 months and with one in five mandates being for portfolio companies of Private Equity Firms & Venture Capitalists, both this sector and Ethiopia will be a key focus for Executives in Africa for 2016/17.

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