Launch of new research programme "Economic Research on Africa"

The kick-off event for a new research programme entitled "Economic Cluster for Research on Africa" ("Wirtschaftswissenschaftliches Cluster Afrikaforschung", WCA) is taking place in the Economic Affairs Ministry today. The hybrid event has been organised by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy together with the Federal Ministry of Finance. The Economic Cluster for Reseach on Africa is a research programme carried out by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW) and the ESB Business School at Reutlingen University. It is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and the Federal Ministry of Finance. The aim is to draw the attention of the general public to the economic relevance of the continent by means of visible research on Africa.

On the occasion of the kick-off event, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Peter Altmaier said: "Africa offers a wide range of opportunities for German businesses. We need to draw the attention of the general public to the continent and highlight and tap the potential for more investment and trade."

The aim of the Economic Cluster for Research on Africa (WCA) is a competely new type of economic research on Africa. The focus is on enterprises and entrepreneurial potential on African markets, trade and investment policies, and matters related to macroeconomic development and stability and to public finance. The research programme is one of the numerous different instruments in the context of the Africa Business Network of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.

For more information about the research projects, please click here and here.