soleRebels , the planets fastest growing global African footwear brand, becomes 1st private African company to be showcased by Forum

Davos, Switzerland / Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The World Economic Forum today named soleRebels , the planets fastest growing global African footwear brand , to the Forums official program at the upcoming 2012 World Economic Forum on Africa taking place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia May 9th-11th.

Hailed for their model of equitable and sustainable growth, soleRebels will be showcased to World Economic Forum delegates including international executives , leading entrepreneurs and global investment managers in a series of interactive site visits to the company’s artisan driven factory and soleRebels' innovative flagship retail location.

bethlehem tilahun alemu , founder and ceo of soleRebels and a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader will lead the tours. Forum delegates will have the chance to interact with company founder + ceo and see+experience how she built both the fastest growing African footwear brand on the planet and the worlds first fair trade footwear company

“I am honored that the World Economic Forum has chosen to showcase soleRebels at this important global gathering which itself serves to highlight the DYNAMIC OPPORTUNITY that IS Africa! soleRebels represents an Africa replete with the ideas, creativity, people , energy , and resources to create world class products and companies . I am deeply excited to share what we have been achieving with soleRebels and show how companies like us can continue to shape, define and position African development as a living and breathing reality that is reflective of the voices of African peoples AND is driven by their talents, their aspirations , their desires and their dreams.” stated Bethlehem.

Among the delegations scheduled to tour soleRebels is The Global Leadership Fellows Programme (GLFP) a unique World Economic Forum leadership development programme. Run by the World Economic Forum the programme finds the next generation of leaders both for the Forum’s own management and governance and also that of the world as a whole.

“The world is on the cusp of major changes and emerging markets are increasingly important as a source of incredible innovation and growth . Seeing and understanding bethlehems vision and her achievement of equitable and sustainable growth is an URGENT MUST for anyone seeking to engage with these evolving dynamics in real time ”, commented Prof. Gilbert Probst, Managing Director of the Leadership Office & Academic Affairs at the World Economic Forum.

The 22nd World Economic Forum Africa gathering brings together 700 global and regional business leaders, heads of state/government and ministers, as well as leaders from media, academia and civil society.

Under the theme Shaping Africa’s Transformation, the programme will focus on three core pillars to address key issues and opportunities:

• Strengthening Africa’s Leadership
• Accelerating Investment in Frontier Markets
• Scaling Innovation for Shared Opportunities

Over the past decade, Africa has become one of the fastest-growing economies worldwide. Ethiopia is a prime example of Africa’s frontier economies. Home to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Addis Ababa is the perfect setting to convene global and pan-African leaders to shape the region’s transformation.

The Co-Chairs of the meeting are Kofi Annan, Chairman, Africa Progress Panel (APP) and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Switzerland; Gao Xiqing, President and Vice-Chairman, China Investment Corporation (CIC), People’s Republic of China; Bekele Geleta, Secretary-General, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Socie ties (IFRC), Geneva; Doug McMillon, President and Chief Executive Officer, Wal-Mart International, Wal-Mart Stores, USA; and Tidjane Thiam, Group Chief Executive, Prudential, United Kingdom.