The Emerging Valley 2024 summit has redefined the landscape of transcontinental innovation and cooperation, marking a historic milestone in Euro-Med-Africa relations. Held on December 3 in Marseille, the event brought together key stakeholders from Europe, Africa, and the Mediterranean, underscoring the potential of investment and entrepreneurship in addressing global challenges. With a huge attendance and innovative initiatives, this year’s edition solidified the summit’s reputation as a transformative force for sustainable development.
The 8th edition of Emerging Valley set unprecedented benchmarks in participation, collaboration, and strategic focus. More than 1,500 participants from 50 countries gathered to exchange ideas and foster partnerships aimed at tackling critical transitions in energy, climate, digitalization, and social equity. Featuring 155 speakers, the event spanned over 30 hours of live content and drew nearly 40 international funds alongside official delegations from 10 African countries, including Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Tunisia. This diverse representation underscored the summit’s growing influence as a global platform for innovation.
Investment and entrepreneurship emerged as central themes. Lafricamobile, a Senegalese startup, made headlines by securing €7 million in fundraising, highlighting the region’s potential to attract substantial global investment. Entrepreneurs and investors engaged in nine flagship sessions designed to foster strategic networking, while tailored workshops and pitch training prepared startups for investor engagement. For the first time, an exclusive Business Investor Lunch facilitated discussions among over 40 influential stakeholders, including Plug and Play, Flat6Labs, and Proparco, further expanding the scope for collaboration.
A key highlight of the summit was the launch of the Positive Mediterranean program by the AFD Group Campus, which seeks to position the Mediterranean as a model of innovation and co-development. This initiative, rooted in a unique narrative-driven approach, introduced a comprehensive framework for fostering talent, supporting social entrepreneurship, and enhancing connectivity. The program includes the Mediterranean Talent Academy, aimed at equipping 88 young innovators with skills to address global and local challenges, and the Mediterranean SIBC Adaptation, an accelerator for scaling social impact projects across North Africa. Emerging Valley itself was positioned as an international platform for showcasing Mediterranean innovation, further solidified by a four-year strategic partnership agreement between AFD Group Campus and Emerging Valley.
The event also celebrated entrepreneurial achievements, such as the recognition of Olivier Decazes for strengthening economic ties through L’Officine du Monde and John Okoro for advancing sustainable export solutions with Growth Energy. These awards highlighted the success stories that exemplify the potential of cross-continental cooperation.
Emerging Valley’s role as a hub for fostering Euro-Mediterranean collaboration was further bolstered by the Soft Landing Provence Africa Connect program, which provided African startups with access to Euro-Mediterranean networks. Delegations from countries such as Nigeria and South Africa showcased their ecosystems’ vibrancy and potential, strengthening the event’s status as a platform for transcontinental bridge-building.
Samir Abdelkrim, the founder of Emerging Valley, articulated the summit’s broader vision, stating, “This record-breaking edition solidifies Emerging Valley’s role as a catalyst for transcontinental innovation. Through strategic announcements, exclusive partnerships, and entrepreneurial successes, we have demonstrated how Europe, Africa, and the Mediterranean can jointly tackle global challenges.”
The summit’s achievements extend beyond its immediate impact, serving as a blueprint for how innovation and investment can drive sustainable transformation in a world grappling with crises. By fostering partnerships, scaling impactful ventures, and celebrating entrepreneurial success, Emerging Valley 2024 has positioned itself not merely as an event but as a movement for collaborative progress.
Emerging Valley’s influence continues to grow, illuminating the pathways through which regions can come together to tackle shared challenges. The summit’s outcomes reaffirm the importance of investing in innovation and collaboration, signaling a promising future for Euro-Med-Africa relations and their collective role in shaping global sustainability.
