Thread by @NaijaFlyingDr

@EmmanuelMacron Thank you to your Government for hosting us for both the Ambition Africa event in Paris and the Afrique France event in Montpellier

I believe that there is so much opportunity for collaborative economic impact for both France and Africa.
But these are the top 3 for me.

1. Technology: Technology and technology investments are the future of our existence on this planet. Europe has fallen behind America and China in terms of these investments.

I have spent the past decade investing in technology through venture capital on the continent. This is a space where young Africans excel, even when compared to our first world counterparts who have access to more resources.

There are over 100 African countries listed on the London Stock exchange. Why aren't they listing in Paris?? I believe that Africa and France can work together to turbo change growth on tech across both Europe and Africa creating opportunities for citizens across both continents.

We have the expertise in mobile money, crypotocurrency, software development and innovation. Great things happen when capital and innovation meet.

Cross listing these type of high growth, tech first equities on your stock exchange will bring wealth to households across France and provide liquidity to African ecosystems.

2. Infrastructure: American Infrastructure, most notably the railroads, were funded by European investors. Bankers like JP Morgan travelled to financial centres like Paris by boat, hundreds of years ago to seek investment in American Infrastructure.

The interest rates that European investors could get in America where higher than in Europe.

Our company specialises in healthcare infrastructure investments and once again Europe finds itself in the same situation.

Negative interest rates. With far higher returns available in Africa; which coincidentally has an infrastructure deficit. The difference is now the journey is 2-5hrs by plane. And the investments can be made electronically 🤗🤗

JP Morgan had to transport gold by horse /carriage, then by ship from Europe to America.

A large amount of American infrastructure was built with European capital, because American investments gave higher returns.

I believe that, in this European negative interest rate environment, we can have the same type of relationship.

European investors 100 years ago had trouble monitoring their investments, because America was a long, treacherous voyage on a ship away from Europe and the money has to be carried physically by ship, so many shareholders were scared of expropriation.

A few unscrupulous bankers would tell the European shareholders lies about shipwrecks, pirates and highway robbers that had stolen the money.

Thats why bankers like JP Morgan said that he was not in the business of finance. He was "in the business of trust". Because Europeans had to trust him to invest their funds in a country they had never seen.

In Africa, we have deep, sophisticated financial markets like the Johannesburg stock exchange and Nigerian Stock exchange; that has recently revamped its corporate governance structure to improve transparency.

There will be no stories of pirates and ship wrecks this time around. And Air France flies to over 10 destinations in Africa, so you can always pop in for a visit.

Plus, compared to our South American counterparts, African countries at least historically, have a lower sovereign risk rating. French banks specialise in long term bond structuring and complex securitisation. This is a perfect fit for both parties.

3. Advocacy:  I believe we can become financially aligned in terms of infrastructure investments & tech investments mentioned in 1+2.

This provides an incentive for the French government to assist, using your positions within global organisations like the IMF/World Bank and the UN to join us to renegotiate the terms of our debts.

This gives us more fiscal space with which to guarantee your infrastructure investments across the continent.

4. Exports: A large percentage of the population in Africa are involved in the agricultural value chain. Food security is something I believe France, like most countries are concerned about.

Let us sit down and look take a good look at our agricultural value chain in Africa to assess how we can add value.

This collaboration could potentially give French citizens access to high quality organic produce possibly at lower prices, as well as provide African countries with foreign exchange improving our balance of trade.

You don't have to buy all your avocados from Mexico or all your bananas from Costa Rica. We are ready to work on the standards of our produce and may need some technical assistance. But why go all the way to Costa Rica, when we are here??

We have been in this relationship for a long time. Yes, it's been difficult, but as far as I know neither of us has filed for divorce.🤗🤣

5. Manufacturing: The COVID19 pandemic revealed to Europe that what we all thought was a global value chain, was actually a Chinese value chain. We are not asking you to abandon your strong trade relationship with China.

But I would like to invite you to give yourself options for manufactured goods, so that you don't rely exclusively on one country. I am sure this is something that many French citizens are concerned about.

Africa is the world's youngest continent. We are skilled. I believe we can become the world's alternative industrial centre reducing the risk of any value chain disruptions in the future.

I promised three thoughts.I have ended up with five.
In summary. Technology, technology, technology; the number of technology unicorns in Africa is rising.

The amount of investment in our tech sector has more than doubled every year for the past 5-10 years. This is mostly American investment capital. I am inviting you to invest in the future alongside us as we continue to build.

In terms of agriculture, exports and manufacturing Africa gives you options and diversity in your food and manufacturing value chains.

This isn't just a trade issue. But a security (particularly food security) issue.

In terms of agriculture, exports and manufacturing Africa gives you options and diversity in your food and manufacturing value chains. This isn't just a trade issue. But a security (particularly food security) issue.

And on more humorous note. This bit is pure marketing for my continent and directed mostly to citizens. Its getting very cold in Paris & across Europe. When you are all planning your winter sun holidays think about Africa. Not everytime Thailand/Miami/Brazil/Dubai.🙄🙄

For Safari's think Kenya, Zambia and Tanzania. For beaches, think Seychelles, Cape Verde and Mauritius. For history & culture, think Ghana, Ethiopia and Egypt. For music and partying at Christmas, think Senegal, Uganda,  or Nigeria. For conferences, think South Africa or Rwanda.

Bring yourselves, bring your families and bring your Euros 💶 . Buy holiday homes, experience our cuisine, stream our music, watch our movies. It's definately better solution for our balance of payments than IMF funding.

I am excited be part of the generation ushering in this new era of improved relations that the Mayor of Montpellier promised us.

Thanks again. Looking forward to job creation,  infrastructure development and building a more prosperous world.

Ps:  Once we lift our people out of poverty and start needing sophisticated pieces of equipment, I am sure we will buy all our submarines from you....unlike some other people, we will not do you like that. I am not naming any names. 😉

For anyone that attended the conference from both the European or African sides and wishes to continue the conversation, pls feel free to reach out directly. My profile and email are on this link: medium.com/@drola/my-offi…

Forgot 4. So adding here:

https://twitter.com/NaijaFlyingDr/status/1446793023527006210?t=UGSqK74emtz8ca-amQ1v6A&s=19