Casa Foundation Hosts Africa Day 2024 with Minister Valdez

We cordially welcome you to Africa Day, a significant occasion celebrating the Organization of African Unity (OAU) establishment in 1963, now known as the African Union (AU), observed annually on May 25th. This year marks the 61st anniversary of dedicated efforts to unite the African people and celebrate the achievements of the pan-African movement, which played a pivotal role in securing Africa’s independence.

There is a significant increase in African newcomers to Canada, resulting in Africa becoming the 2nd fastest-growing population in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, Africa is home to 5 of the top 10 fastest-growing economies in the world, and once fully implemented, the African Continental Free Trade Area will be equivalent to the world’s fifth-largest economy, with the potential for a combined GDP of more than $4.6 trillion. By 2022, Canadian direct investment in Africa stood at $15.7 billion, while African foreign direct investment stock to Canada amounted to $2 billion. Canada’s merchandise trade with African countries totaled $15.1 billion by 2022, while Denton's 2023 analysis report affirms African countries such as Nigeria, Morocco, and Algeria as the largest trade partners of Canada. However, despite the recent increase in trade numbers, little is known about the challenges and experiences of people of the African Diaspora.

Some of the challenges faced by these newcomers include how to Rebuild their lives, businesses, and careers in their new homeland and of course how to navigate the structural barriers that they are faced with. Entrepreneurs from Afro-descendant communities, lack support systems and have limited access to relevant information to begin their entrepreneurial journey so that they can contribute to Canada's GDP and develop homegrown businesses that could influence, impact, and partner with Africa's business sectors.

Africa Day serves as a dynamic platform for learning, dialogues, and collaboration. It brings solutions and ideas to support African innovations and entrepreneurship through collaborations, and networking. The Forum features panel discussions, a fireside chat with key decision-makers, and learning about opportunities and challenges from speakers from entrepreneurial backgrounds, academia, policymakers, leaders, and practitioners. The session brings together investors looking for opportunities in Africa, or its diaspora businesses, CEOs, Founders, and leaders from government and private sectors to exchange ideas, network, and discuss available solutions.

The Forum is also an occasion for recognition and celebration of Founders of our various partnered programs while announcing winners of support initiatives such as Pitch Grants and other resources provided by our partners like Casa Foundation, and other institutions.

Join us to celebrate Africa Day!

About Casa Foundation:

Casa Foundation connects and empowers various Ecosystem groups across diverse industries to a global audience for meaningful networking and knowledge sharing, through its Central Hubs across Canada, and spotlights notable BIPOC Businesses and their accomplishments. This year we focus on the excellence of BIPOC businesses from the African Diaspora and will look to connect them to value-creating partners that could provide inroads into business in Africa. The event will gather a prestigious line-up of businesses, academics, and policymakers. Read more on Casa Foundation

The Program:

Includes interactive sessions with Keynotes, Fireside, Panels, and Workshops to explore opportunities for growth, entrepreneurship, sustainable investments, and the economic development of Black-African businesses in the diaspora.

The event will also mark the graduation of the 6th Cohort of the Black Advisory Hub (BAH) Accelerator. The Black Advisory Hub is a National program supported by the Canadian Government integrating the socio-professional inclusion of the Canadian Black Communities through innovation.

Key Speakers are drawn from:

• Public and Private sectors
• Diplomatic sector

• CEOs & Founders
• Industry Experts on Africa
• Dr. Olutoyin Oyelade: CEO Casa Foundation and Founder, InVcap

Join us at these Sessions:

• The Resources We Need

• The Available Support

• How to get them

Watch previous editions of Africa Day from 2020 here:

https://www.Youtube.com/Casafoundation

Join Our Entrepreneurs' Networks here: Entrepreneurspoint