Jaume Llopis, member of the Senate of the Royal European Academy of Doctors-Barcelona 1914 (RAED) and professor at the IESE Business School, delivered the inaugural lecture of the 7th Economic Forum held on September 25 in Abidjan by the National Confederation of Businessmen of Ivory Coast. The event was headed by the president of this African country, Alassane Ouattara, who was accompanied by his Government in full, and was attended by 4,600 businessmen and representatives of commercial firms operating in Ivory Coast.
Llopis gave the lecture “Comment valoriser les produits agricoles pour fonder une industrie nationale” (How to value agricultural products to create a national industry), an intervention that inaugurated the days that were held under the generic title “Cap sur l’industrialization: un defi pour tous” (Focus on industrialization: a challenge for all). For the member of the RAED, Ivory Coast must start from its traditional economy to walk towards an industrial future. A path that can only be realized from the value of sustainability and quality as the main endorsement for international markets, avoiding the simple sale of raw materials.
Prof. Jaume Llopis
Since its first edition in 2012, this event annually brings together business leaders, young entrepreneurs and clients. Since then it has addressed all types of topics aimed at both local entrepreneurs and investors. Its main challenge is to promote private investment in the industrial sector. To this end, it has developed specific actions beyond its annual forum, such as inventorying the industrial sector of Ivory Coast in its weaknesses and strengths, detecting its threats and opportunities, creating an exchange platform on inspiring experiences especially for young and prospective promoters, create spaces for the exhibition and promotion of innovative industrial products and services for young entrepreneurs, train and inform on the foundations to succeed in the industrial sector, create forums for discussions and reflections on the macroeconomic environment, raise awareness and debate with those responsible for the making public decisions about the challenges for entrepreneurs, promoting sustainable industries and raising awareness among all private and public stakeholders about the importance of the development of the industrial sector.
