Theme: Promoting Trade and Investment - Mobilising Diaspora Capacities and Resources.
Date: Postpond to Feb 2011
HOSTS: WE ARE LOOKING FOR A HOST PREFERABLY AN MEP, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OR BUSINESS-SCHOOL. A HOST DOES NOT INCUR ANY COSTS EXCEPT PROVIDE A VENUE FOR MEETINGS.
The aim of the conference is to increase trade and investment flows into Africa and to encourage a transcontinental exchange of knowledge and expertise.The conference will have as a specific objective, fostering business to business linkages, and in particular encouraging technology transfer, joint ventures, manufacturing contracts, franchising, sub-contracts, financial investments, equipment provision and inter-regional trade.
It will seek to leverage the capacities and resources of the African Diaspora based in Europe, and those that have returned to their countries of origin in the recent past. Many within the Africa Diaspora are already engaged in business and can play an important role in brokering partnerships on both the European and African sidesA central plank of the of the conference will be to create an environment that facilitates memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and Joint ventures (JVs) between the selected African and European companies.
Targeted Africa Countries
Sub-Saharan African countries.
UNDP has expertise in this area where it has helped organize the Africa-Asia business forum. The UNDP will therefore advise on the composition of African participants.On the European side, the confederation of European business will advise on the make up of European participants.
At the end of the preparation phase, match-making will begin.
Priority Sectors
Information and Communications Technologies, Manufacturing, Tourism, Financial Services, Agro Processing
Speakers
African Union Ambassador to the European Union , Mo Ibrahim, Business Europe, Paul Kagame, Tejan - PRUDENTIAL, Ties Burnon, Frank Engel MEP,Syed Kamall MEP, DG Trade(To be confirmed), Tradecom(To be confirmed), Mike Niyitegeka etc.
Key Sectors:
Selection Criteria
Targeted companies are subject to a minimum selection criteria (MSC). To qualify for participation a company must meet the MSC set by organizers thus demonstrating its commitment and ability to engage in tangible business negotiations at the conference in Brussels.
Please note that the organizers will sponsor the participation fee and the networking dinner.
Other Initiatives related to EU-Africa Trade Relations
A) The EU-Africa Business Forum:
This forum was created in 2005 by the European Commission and is driven by governments in Europe and Africa with the aim of:
1. Assisting Africa to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals
2. Helping African economies to integrate into the world Economy.
B) European Business Council for Africa and the Mediterranean (EBCAM)
This organisation defends the interests of the European private sector in Africa by liaising with both the European commission and African governments.It also brings together European investors and works for a close cooperation between the European private sector and African countries, in particular the private sector.
C) The African Diaspora Policy Centre (ADPC)
Established in 2006 in The Netherlands, the ADPC is a platform that enables the African Diaspora in the Netherlands to connect more closely with the African continent. They put their resources together and take initiatives related to peace, good governance and brain gain. The conference will seek the cooperation of the above three as well as the African Diaspora secretariat in Johannesburg.
Value additions.
1.This conference will play a prominent role in identifying and telling the European Business Community about the successful business stories in Africa. This will have a positive impact by improving preceptions that some European Businesses have about Africa.
2.The pre-matching of African and European businesses before the conference to determine suitable business matches. Legal firms will be invited to facilitate negotiations during the conference.
3. The inclusion of an African Diaspora constituency that will play the role of brokerage before, during and after the conference. The African Diaspora have got significant amounts of social capital which has been hitherto unutilized for business. Furthermore, with the skills, finance and contacts gained in Europe, the African Diaspora in Europe are among the leading entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa.
4. The Launch of an African business lobby that will bring it's knowledge and expertise to bear in trade policy movements at the European level. This lobby will also represent the interests of the African Private Sector in Europe.
The Conference
Focused discussions and business clinics will take place throughout the conference. Arrangements that facilitate one to one meetings and negotiations will also be made.Sponsored networking events will be set up to facilitate networking. Optional one to one meetings can also be arranged on the eve of the conference or the day after. On the day of the conference, a reception and dinner will be arranged in the evening.
The conference will begin by 08.30 am therefore participants from outside Belgium will be advised to arrive the day before.Representatives from regional and international banking and financial institutions will be invited. Meetings with senior bankers interested in financing worthy companies in Africa and joint ventures will also be arranged.Business experts such as consultants, accountants and lawyers will be available to assist on related issues. In addition, business support services such as interpretation and translations. At a reasonable fee, personal assistants can also be availed.
Format
Session 1:
Success Stories from Africa told by European companies present in Africa.
Session 2:
Investment in Financial services, Trade in services,Outsourcing opportunities in Africa, Investment opportunities in ICTs in Africa.
Agro Processing(Monsanto)
Session 3;
Business to Business
Talking together and getting business done: Broker deals with the help
of lawyers. There will be prematching of companies.
Strategy
To ensure the conduct meaningful and substantial negotiations during the conference, it is required that African companies prepare and present written business proposals that are concrete and viable to their European counterparts. This will provide a basis for solid business ventures and follow up.Follow upThe momentum generated by the matching process will be further enhanced by the presence of Gro Trade Consulting (Gtc). Gtc will follow up on MoUs and Joint Ventures negotiated at the conference.
