World Bulletin / News Desk

The 25th World Economic Forum on Africa (WEF) opened Wednesday in Cape Town South Africa.

Over 1000 leaders from business, politics and civil society are expected to attend the three-day conference which ends Friday. This year’s forum is being held under the Theme: “Then and Now: Reimagining Africa's Future.”

“The occasion of our 25th meeting allows us an opportunity to see how far Africa has come economically, socially and politically since 1990,” Elsie Kanza, head of Africa, World Economic Forum said in a statement.

Organizers say the meeting is the largest ever to be held on the African continent and the record levels of participation are believed to reflect optimism in the economic prospects of the region.There is an “unprecedented commitment across all stakeholder groups to pursue public-private cooperation as a means of tackling the considerable challenges the region still faces,” organizers said.

The meeting will hold high-level sessions on critical issues such as migration, and combatting terrorism. A total of 83 leading international companies will also be represented at the meeting alongside 90 senior government officials from the continent and the world.

The first World Economic Forum meeting in Africa took place in 1990, the year South Africa’s late iconic leader Nelson Mandela was released from prison.

President Jacob Zuma is expected to host an official welcome dinner for the delegates on Thursday.