Programme

The growing global demand for energy, food, strategic minerals, and raw materials has been reshaping international economic and political relations. Countries rich in natural resources face the challenge of turning their comparative advantages into greater economic autonomy, technological development, and influence in global negotiations.
The session will discuss strategies to strengthen sovereignty over resources, improve terms of trade, and promote balanced partnerships with investors, companies, and governments from different regions. Topics addressed will include value addition, economic security, productive diversification, and strategic governance.

• How can developing and Global South countries navigate the turbulent waters of the current geopolitical landscape to position themselves as safe harbors for attracting investment?
• What policies and institutional mechanisms have proven most effective in enabling resource-rich countries to move beyond simple commodity exports toward value addition and local technological development, and what are the main obstacles faced in this process?
• What are investors’ perspectives on emerging markets in priority sectors — such as oil and gas, critical minerals, and other raw materials? And how can governments build more balanced partnerships with these investors and global powers, ensuring that trade terms and investment agreements effectively reflect their long-term sovereignty and development interests?

International trade can drive development, but its benefits remain unevenly distributed. Trade barriers, low productive diversification, and limited capacity to add value reduce the participation of many countries in global value chains.
The session will discuss ways to expand trade among Global South countries and strengthen integration between Africa, Brazil, and other regions. Topics addressed will include trade agreements, trade facilitation, sustainability standards, logistics, financing, and strategies for building more balanced and inclusive economic relations.

• What trade and logistical barriers most impact the competitiveness of Global South countries in international value chains, and what trade facilitation measures can be prioritized to expand exchange between Africa, Brazil, and other regions?
• What trade financing and regional integration strategies have proven most effective in reducing asymmetries between trading partners and building more balanced and inclusive economic relations among Brazil, Africa, and other Global South countries?
• What public policies and forward-looking initiatives can be adopted to promote trade ties between Mercosur and the AfCFTA, as well as with other trade blocs?

The transition to a low-carbon economy will increase demand for critical minerals used in batteries, power grids, renewable energy equipment, and digital technologies. This dynamic creates opportunities for producing countries, but it also involves risks related to predatory exploitation, technological dependency, and the concentration of value in a small number of markets.
The session will discuss how to promote a just energy transition, combining global energy security, industrial development, and environmental protection. Topics addressed will include local processing, mineral recycling, socio-environmental standards, benefit-sharing, and technological cooperation.

• With the growing demand for critical minerals in recent years, how can developing countries leverage their abundant mineral deposits to build a higher value-added local supply chain?
• What solutions can the private sector propose to improve transportation, storage, and essential infrastructure in order to ensure efficient mining operations?
• What are the main challenges in balancing mining activity with sustainability, considering the sustainable development of local communities and compliance with environmental laws?

Organized by Pan African Capital Holdings (PAC Holdings)

Climate change, conflicts, disruptions in logistics chains, and price volatility have been amplifying the challenges of food security. International cooperation is essential to strengthen production, reduce losses, ensure access to inputs, and increase the resilience of agri-food systems.
The session will bring together perspectives on sustainable agriculture, precision agriculture technology, fertilizers, irrigation, storage, financing, and logistics. Experiences of cooperation between countries will also be discussed, highlighting family farming, local production, innovation, and the integration of regional markets.

• How can the structural challenges of agriculture be turned into profitable opportunities for investors, entrepreneurs, and producers through investment in innovation and technology?
• How has the private sector been managing risk, and what lessons can be applied to promote more efficient, productive, and profitable agriculture?
• What South-South technical cooperation models can be strengthened between Brazil, the African continent, and other relevant regions to promote more resilient and inclusive agricultural value chains?

Recent health crises have highlighted the importance of health systems prepared to respond quickly to epidemics, emergencies, and persistent inequalities in access to services. Innovation and biotechnology can help expand diagnostic capacity, vaccine and medicine production, equipment, and digital solutions, strengthening countries’ health autonomy.
The session will discuss opportunities for cooperation between African countries, Brazil, and partners from other regions in the areas of research, technological development, professional training, and local production of strategic inputs. Topics addressed will also include technology transfer, clinical research, digital health, preventive medicine, epidemiological surveillance, and the construction of more inclusive, accessible, and resilient health systems.

• What concrete lessons has the COVID-19 pandemic left for Brazil and Africa regarding the need to reduce dependence on global pharmaceutical supply chains and develop their own production capacities?
• How can the rich biodiversity shared between Brazil and Africa be transformed into a real competitive advantage for innovation in biotechnology and health?
• What cooperation models — involving public, private, and hospital systems — can be most effective in simultaneously expanding access to healthcare, innovation capacity, and health resilience in both regions?