Africa Pops — Investors & Buyers Day

June 17, 2026

Virgin Hotels NYC

Beyond the Hype : From Pride to Power

West Africa Pops Up Resources, New Growth Drivers and Shifting Mindsets

10:30 - 11:00

Welcome & opening networking

Welcome Coffee; Power Opening — From Match Day Energy to Business Momentum

Strategic networking opening connecting sports visibility with business opportunities.

11:00 - 11:20

Official Opening

Beyond the Hype: From Pride to Power

Opening remarks on turning visibility, diaspora pride and global attention into concrete business momentum for West Africa.

11:20 - 12:20

Brand Presentations

Dedicated presentations by the participating brands and platforms to introduce their vision, products/services, market positioning, and partnership needs.

12:20 - 13:00

Panel 1 — Executive Leadership & Investment Climate

Investing in West Africa’s Gateways: Trust, Access & Execution

A focused discussion on what investors need to understand before entering West African markets: credibility, local partners, incentives, execution capacity and long-term trust.

13:00 - 14:00

Lunch & Networking

Business Networking Lunch & Exhibition Walk

Lunch break, exhibition discovery, brand meetings, buyer conversations and informal investor connections.

14:00 - 14:40

Panel 2 — Buyers, Brands & Export Readiness

From Local Brands to Global Buyers

How African brands can become buyer-ready

14:40 - 15:20

Panel 3 — Finance, Diaspora Capital & Digital Payments

Moving Money, Building Trust, Financing Growth

A practical conversation on diaspora capital, remittances, fintech, payment infrastructure and investment flows into West Africa, with Afric Déclic, DiasporaSend and NALA.

15:20 - 16:00

Panel 4 — Global Capital & Investment Readiness

What Global Capital Needs Before Saying YES

Direct discussion around investor expectations: structure, governance, risk, documentation, deal readiness and the conditions needed to attract serious capital.

16:00 - 16:15

Networking Break

Capital Meets Projects

Short curated break to connect investors, project owners, founders and diaspora leaders around concrete opportunities.

16:15 - 16:50

Soft Power Session

Soft Power to Revenue — Sport, Culture, Fashion, Food & Creative Capital

How culture, fashion, tourism, media and women-led initiatives can become economic growth drivers.

16:50 - 17:00

Closing Ceremony

From New York to West Africa — Ready to GO!

Closing remarks and next steps connecting New York momentum to West Africa 2026/2027 opportunities.

Tickets — Investors & Buyers Day

Meet Our Key Speakers

Aziz Ndiaye

Founder & CEO – Anep Company

Idrissa Diallo

General Manager – CIRKEM

DR. Alizé Utteryn

Founder & Chief Executive Officer, AlizéLaVie Group · Founder & Chief Executive Officer, AlizéGreenInfra LLC USA · Global Affairs, Kaveti International Law Firm · Co-Chair (USA), Golden Chariot Global Award Organizing Committee · Accredited Journalist at the United Nations · Vice President of Media & Public Affairs, United African Congress (UAC)

Jacques Epangue

Manager – Business France North America · International Trade & Agri Food Expert

Abdoulaye NDIAYE

Professor of Economics, New York University, Stern School of Business

Elhadj Mamadou Camara

Founder – Afric D'clic · Vice-President – IOM Africa · Executive Committee Member & Treasurer – American Chamber of Commerce in Senegal

Dior Fall

President & Founder – 1000 Shades of Women Foundation International · Goodwill Ambassador, International Human Rights Commission · Global Peace Ambassador