Salon
Driving Growth: Local Value Chains & Global Trade
Berlin Global Dialogue
Salon: Driving Growth: Local Value Chains & Global Trade
October 24, 2025
ESMT Berlin
Amid growing geopolitical and economic tensions, Europe and Germany face a critical moment to redefine their international engagement – particularly with partners across the African continent. The Commission “A Changing World – Germany and the Global South” has highlighted ways to strategically reposition Germany and Europe in their relationships with the Global South.
As traditional trade relations shift, strengthening local value chains, enhancing trade agreements, and mobilizing private capital are becoming key to building more resilient and mutually beneficial economies.
This Global Perspectives Salon brought together political, economic, and private-sector perspectives to explore practical strategies and best practices for scaling local economies. We examined how EU trade agreements with the Global South can foster sustainable collaboration, and how improved guarantee mechanisms can attract greater private investment.

Contact Persons
Rhoda Berger, r.berger@globalperspectives.org
Sarah van Bentum, s.vanbentum@globalperspectives.org
Supported by
Salon
Continuous dialogue creates awareness for the urgent questions of our time. In salons, renowned experts open the discussion with our selected guests from business, politics and society.
Program Archive
Our speaker James Irungu Mwangi shared his perspective on how to accelerate climate action and investment across Africa. Together, we discussed what it will take to mobilize the green finance needed.
Germany is a country of immigration. Building on our Commission's recommendations for action, we discussed ways to better manage and communicate labor migration.
Europe and Africa have the chance to advance technology and shape the future of the global space economy together through cooperation.
Amid shifting global dynamics, investing in Africa’s strengths in renewable energy and climate action is more urgent than ever. The action recommendations of the eighth conference.
How can Germany build strong, sustainable relationships with countries in the Global South that benefit both sides? At HSC 2025, we continued the dialogue on the Commission's recommendations.
At the eighth edition of The Africa Roundtable, we discussed how to rethink and strengthen sustainable finance in Africa through strategic partnerships with Europe.
The Commission “A Changing World – Germany and the Global South” presents its recommendations as a basis for addressing key strategic decisions facing Germany today.
How can Germany's international cooperation become more sustainable? After a year of intensive work, the Commission presented its final report recommendations for discussion.
DPI can help bring large populations online, driving economic growth. We highlighted the range of benefits of this new concept at our follow-up to the seventh edition of The Africa Roundtable.









