Africa investor (Ai), a leading international investment and communications group, yesterday announced the winners of the prestigious Ai Investment and Business Leader Awards 2014, which took place at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Washington DC, during the Ai CEO Investment Summit on the eve of the World Bank Annual Meetings.

These prestigious Ai Awards are the longest standing international investment awards that reward exceptional business practices, economic achievements and investments across Africa, and recognise the institutions and individuals improving the continent’s investment climate.

Read the full list of 2014 winners below.

Award winners included a number of leaders who were recognised for their achievements.

Finance Minister of the Year was awarded to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who thanked Ai for its continued leadership in attracting investment and investors to Africa.

The Award for Africa’s Innovation Leader of the Year went to Michael T. Mack, CEO of Syngenta, and Africa’s Leading Woman in Business was presented to Monica Musonda, CEO and Founder of Java Foods.

African Business Leader of the Year was awarded to Dr Ahmed Heikal, CEO and Founder, Qalaa Holdings; Bob Diamond, Co-founder of Atlas Mara, was recognised as International Business Leader of the Year, and Up and Coming Future Leader of the Year was awarded to Alex Okosi, Senior Vice-President and Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks Africa. The Bank of Zambia’s Dr Michael Gondwe was recognised as the Ai Central Bank Governor of the Year.

Institutions recognised included the Nigerian Stock Exchange for the Best Initiative In Support of SMEs and the Millennium Development Goals. Investment Climate Initiative of the Year was awarded to the ACP Business Climate Facility, while Bank of the Year was given to Standard Bank for a second year in a row. GE Africa was presented with the Ai Green Investment Initiative of the Year Award for the Power Africa Initiative and Frigoken Ltd was honoured for their Leadership in Sustainable Investment in Africa.

Venture Capital/Private Equity Deal of the Year was shared by Blackstone and Black Rhino, while Microsoft was voted as Employer and Human Capital Investor of the Year. Investment

Promotion Agency of the Year went to the Kenyan Investment Authority (KenInvest), and Carlyle Group was awarded Institutional Investor of the Year.

Commenting on the Awards, Hubert Danso, CEO and Vice Chairman of Africa investor, said; “Congratulations to all our nominees and winners. Every nomination was well-deserved and we are thrilled to be able to showcase these African investment and business success stories. We cannot emphasise enough the importance of the role these institutions play in improving the perception of Africa as an investment destination and we commend their contribution and commitment to this effort.”

The Ai Investment and Business Leader Awards were presented on the 9th of October 2014 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Washington DC, during the Africa investor CEO Investment Summit, which was held in association with the IFC and the World Bank Group Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice.

The Ai Investment and Business Leader Awards Winners 2014 

1. Best Initiative in Support of SMEs and the Millennium Development Goals

Nigerian Stock Exchange

2. Investment Climate Initiative of the Year

ACP Business Climate Facility

3. Bank of the Year

Standard Bank

4. Ai Green Investment Initiative of the Year

GE Africa

5. Venture Capital/Private Equity Deal of the Year

Blackstone/Black Rhino

6. Employer and Human Capital Investor of the Year

Microsoft

7. Institutional Investor of the Year

The Carlyle Group

8. Investment Promotion Agency of the Year

Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest)

9. Leadership in Sustainable Investment in Africa

Frigoken Limited

10. Africa’s Innovation Leader of the Year

Michael T. Mack, CEO, Syngenta

11. Africa’s Leading Woman in Business

Monica Musonda, CEO and Founder, Java Foods

12. African Business Leader of the Year

Dr Ahmed Heikal, CEO and Founder, Qalaa Holdings

13. International Business Leader of the Year

Bob Diamond, Co-Founder, Atlas Mara

14. Up and Coming Future Leader of the Year

Alex Okosi, Senior Vice-President and Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks Africa

15. Finance Minister of the Year

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance, Federal Republic of Nigeria

16. Central Bank Governor of the Year

Dr Michael Gondwe, Governor, Bank of Zambia

17. Global Investment Personality of the Year

Jeff Immelt, CEO, GE Global