PAN-AFRICAN BANKER GERVAIS ATTA TO CHAMPION PRIVATE SECTOR VOICE AS NEW SADC BUSINESS COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Gervais Atta Elected SADC Business Council President, Ushering in New Era of Private Sector-led Regional Integration.

Southern africa Sadc Private sector intergration Africa Leadership.
Gervais Atta
Gervais Atta



In a bold move signaling deeper regional cooperation, Ivorian financier Gervais Atta has been elected President of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Business Council, ushering in what many see as a new era of private sector-led integration in Southern Africa.

Backed by Madagascar’s leading employers’ organization, his election comes at a symbolic moment, just as Madagascar also prepares to take over the rotating presidency of the SADC at the state level. The rare alignment of institutional and business leadership between the state and private sectors is seen as a springboard for stronger political-business synergy across the region.

The SADC Business Council, composed of top employers’ organizations from the bloc’s 16 member countries, plays a pivotal role in shaping economic cooperation and investment flows. As the new Council head, Atta is expected to breathe fresh momentum into private sector engagement, champion cross-border enterprise collaboration, and streamline efforts to create a more competitive and investor-friendly regional market.

Renowned for steering financial institutions through complex environments, from the Comoros to Madagascar, and most recently as Managing Director of AFG Bank Madagascar, a subsidiary of Atlantic Financial Group Holding, Atta brings to the role not only technical expertise but also a reputation for pragmatism and regional vision.

His appointment is more than a ceremonial nod; it is a strategic bet on a unified private sector voice in the SADC’s broader development goals. Under his leadership, the Council is expected to prioritize reforms, promote infrastructure and trade corridors, and elevate the role of African businesses in shaping policy.

With Madagascar holding both the institutional and economic presidency in 2025, the region stands at a turning point. Atta’s pan-African credentials and leadership style may well position the SADC Business Council as a powerful instrument in transforming policy into prosperity.

Comments

You must be logged in to comment.