West and Central Africa’s Investment Environment and Infrastructure Opportunities in Spotlight

A new focus report produced by Oxford Business Group (OBG), in partnership with the international brokerage network Groupe Ascoma, will explore the increased focus on compliance, transparency and ethical practices in the West and Central African markets as the region looks to attract investment for its economic development.

Titled “Governance, Risk and Compliance in West and Central Africa”, the focus report will provide in-depth analysis of key issues relating to insurance and reinsurance, against the broader regional socio-economic landscape, in an easy-to-navigate and accessible format, featuring essential data and infographics.

The report will shine a spotlight on the way that doing business is evolving across the region’s economies at a time when ECOWAS members are keen to source funding for a vast range of intra-continental and domestic infrastructure projects.

Subscribers will find detailed coverage of the key role that private sector players such as Ascoma are expected to play in driving change and instilling a culture of insurance and reinsurance across business communities by identifying risks common to the region and providing effective, tailored solutions to them.

The report will examine specific areas of the economy in which governance, risk and compliance (GRC) principles are being given added weight, including energy, infrastructure, mining and the financial services industry.

It will also include an in-depth interview with Farid Chedid, CEO and Chairman, Groupe Ascoma, in which he explains how GRC dynamics are helping the company achieve its objectives, while supporting the region’s bid to make future economic growth sustainable. “Ascoma is committed to the economic and infrastructure development of Africa, and applying Global, Risk and Compliance principles is essential for our operations, not only in the continent but also in the Middle East and the rest of the world. Transparency, compliance, and business ethics are top priorities for us in the moment of investing in any country”. Commenting ahead of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the report, Bernardo Bruzzone, OBG’s Regional Editor for Africa, said that the new report with Ascoma was timely, given the added importance that both corporations and governments are attaching to GRC principles.

“Business environments are changing globally on the back of new requirements from investors, with tighter regulations and greater transparency,” Bruzzone said. “Our research with Ascoma will plot the GRC trends that are gaining momentum regionally, while also highlighting the positive impact they could have on West and Central Africa’s potential as an investment destination.”

“Governance Risk and Compliance in West and Central Africa” will form part of a series of tailored reports which OBG is currently producing with its partners, alongside other highly relevant, go-to research tools, including a range of country-specific Growth and Recovery Outlook articles and interviews.