Youthful demographics, rising productivity and changing technology in emerging and frontier markets create enormous investment opportunities but also necessitate systemic change in structuring development finance.
Great creativity is required for delivering solutions and expanding the necessary systems. This is especially true in the crucial areas of energy, health, water and food. Technologies need to be customized, financed and deployed on massive scales to make a difference in the lives of the vulnerable poor.
Gaps also exist in financing tools and programs, including loans, equity support, insurance and more. Bridging them will require scientific proficiency, fresh business models, smart incentive structures, the tailoring of technology to local conditions and geographic and cultural awareness. In this roundtable we'll discuss social and financial innovations in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia aimed at expanding growth.
Participants:
Eytan Stibbe, Vital Capital
Sivan Borovitz-Yaari, Innovation-Africa
Yosef Abramowitz, Co-Founder, Arava Power Company & CEO, Energiya Global Capital
Amir Gal-Or, Managing Partner, Infinity Equity
Peter Nichols, Social Finance-UK
Tally Zinger ,Lecturer, Tel Aviv University
Moderator: Steve Zecher, Milken Institute