The two-day event, organised by the Foreign Ministry in cooperation with partners, will open with addresses by Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec, Ambassador Alenka Suhadolnik, Zambia's National Planning Minister Lucky Mulusa and Ajay K. Bramdeo, head of Mission of the African Union to the EU.

Three panels will follow to discuss Africa's challenges and opportunities as well as initiatives aimed at boosting cooperation between Slovenia and African countries.

The first of these will be dedicated to young people and jobs. Africa is the youngest continent with a youth population of 200 million. By 2063 its population is projected to grow to three billion, 30% of which will be between 15 do 24 years old.

The fast growing youth population is an engine of change and development, while it also creates challenges, including access to education, training and labour market and political involvement.

The second panel will focus on ways to align the continent's economic and tax policies, boost economic links between its nations and establish regional cooperation and inter-cultural dialogue.

The third panel will discuss the relationship between Africa and the EU, common challenges and visions in the wake of changes on both continents, and the need for even closer cooperation between them.

Day 2 will see presentations of the Ivory Coast and Zambia, the two African countries in focus this year, followed by a presentation of Slovenia's economy, in particular information and communication technologies, agriculture, water and waste recycling.

In the runnup to the conference, a series of cultural and academic events shed light on the rich heritage of Africa and its contemporary culture.