On June 6, 2015, NEPAD launched the first meeting of the Continental Business Network (CBN) as part of the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town, South Africa. The CBN, mandated by African Heads of State, acts as an exclusive private sector infrastructure investment advisory platform for African Heads of State and high-level African policymakers, providing private sector thought leadership and engagement on a range of related strategic issues.
There were six priority themes emanating from this first meeting, namely: mobilizing public sector support and private sector engagement for early-stage PIDA project development; a focus on project structuring, finance and operation; managing regional project investment risks; fast-tracking and incentivizing private sector procurement; developing practical and effective working relationships with African Heads of State and governments, and enabling governments and public entities responsible for implementing projects to access high-quality independent technical advisory services.
