Friday November 16, 2007

Agriculture value-chains are integral to economic growth in Africa. Risk management from the production level, through to distribution, processing, and retail as key elements for success. This workshop will highlight the successes in investing to improve risk management for farmers, traders and processors. The building blocks for investment in world class agriculture value-chains are being laid. Investors are invited to participate and get in on the ground floor of dynamic economic growth in Africa.

Panelists
Mr. Jeffrey Borns, Acting Assistant Administrator for the Africa Bureau, US Agency for International Development
Mr. Paul Schickler, DuPont Vice President and General Manager and Pioneer President
Ms. Anne Mbaabu, Executive Director; Eastern Africa Grain Council
Dr. Daniel Annerose, CEO, Manobi Corporation

Moderator
Dr. Joyce Cacho, Director, Agribusiness Initiatives Program, Corporate Council on Africa

Africa is at the frontier of the rapidly emerging biomass and agri fuels industry. Innovative investment propositions for value-added agriculture in Africa are primarily shaped by the required length of commitment prior to the realization of returns on that investment. This workshop will highlight profitable investments in Liberia and Mali and discuss the link to capital markets to make them happen. The biomass project in Liberia involves the felling, drying, chipping and shipping of old rubber trees (beyond their years of active production) to European utilities, associated with a replanting program to rejuvenate the rubber sector. In Mali, the Markala Sugar Project will be producing 15,000 kilo liters of ethanol in addition to 30 megawatts of electricity.

As highlighted in the World Bank’s 2007 Global Development Report, agriculture is an essential ingredient of poverty reduction and economic growth in Africa. This workshop, facilitated by Technoserve, will describe partnerships between three US agricultural corporations, Chiquita, Cargill, and Dunavant and USAID. Using distinct models, each of these combines a dynamic and flexible business investment with programs that generate rapid increases in productivity and concomitant reductions in poverty. USAID and other partners can help corporations overcome problems with an uncertain business environment – e.g. land and labor, as well as help them meet expectations for the delivery of social service. The participants will discuss how CSR enhances the value and security of investment and improves the quality of life for the communities it reaches.

Panelists
Mr. Salvador Namburete, Minister of Energy, Government of the Republic of Mozambique
Mr. Tony Isherwood, Vice Chairman, Dunavant/Zambia TBD, Cargill:
Mr. John Byerly, Director of Finance, Chiquita Sourcing Operations, Chiquita Brands International
Mr. David McLaughlin, Chiquita Brands International
Mr. Todd Amani, Director, USAID/Mozambique

Moderator
Mr. Jake Walter, Director, Technoserve/Mozambique
.

Nigeria's second national development plan, 1970 -1974, was clear about the kind of country the people desired to build as an independent nation. A great, dynamic economy and a strong self-reliant nation. However, Nigeria is yet to attain this height. To meet the challenges of the situation, the Nigerian Government embarked on major reform program. For instance, the reforms in the banking sector of the economy and the fight against corruption have boosted the confidence of foreign investors in the country's economy. The reforms have also facilitated macroeconomic stability and have made Nigeria a haven for foreign investors who want higher returns on their investment. There is however the need to encourage more private sector participation and foreign investment in Nigeria to meet the government's target of making the country one of the top 20 economies of the world by 2020. The workshop will therefore focus on the various investment opportunities and favorable economic climate now in Nigeria.

Panelists
Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Executive Governor of Delta State, Nigeria
Mr. Amos Sakaba - Chief Operating Officer - Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC)
Mrs. Patience Okala - Principal Investment Officer - NIPC
Mr. Abayomi Salami - Principal Investment Officer- NIPC

Moderator
Mr. Deji Haastrup - Chevron Nigeria,  Ltd.

ExxonMobil representatives from Angola, Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria will host an interactive dialogue on workforce development of national employees, business linkages and supplier development, as well as community programs aimed at building national capacity. The workshop highlights the value and contribution that National Content adds across the business spectrum in Africa.

The Gulf of Guinea is one of the most strategically important regions to U.S.-Africa relations. The region is responsible for nearly 25 percent of U.S. energy needs, and yet faces critical issues of security, transparency, economic and political cooperation, and social development. This workshop will examine how oil and gas development can be a driver for positive change, and what the region must do to ensure a strong foundation for the future.
 

As U.S. energy companies invest billions of dollars in oil and gas exploration and development in Africa, their responsibility to ensure that this investment promotes development increases. Companies today are joining a host of international voluntary initiatives to help promote good governance, security and transparency in the places they invest. They are also taking care to ensure that their own social investments are well coordinated with a host country’s national development plans. The US government is also taking innovative steps to promote these voluntary initiatives and facilitate public private partnerships. This workshop is designed to help understand the nature of these voluntary initiatives, to explore how U.S. energy companies implement them, and demonstrate new and effective models for corporate social investment in social programs on the African continent. The workshop will offer perspectives from the viewpoints of companies, international financial and development agencies, and the U.S. government.

Regardless of the economic status of an individual, housing is one of the greatest needs in Africa, not only for the poor but for the emerging middle class. A key to obtaining adequate housing is financing. This workshop will discuss the financing of housing projects in Africa through OPIC and other agencies. Panelists will be representatives of OPIC, the African Development Bank and the private banking system.

Attempts by African exporters (including SMEs) to penetrate the U.S. market are increasingly successful, often with the support of USAID initiatives such as the Global Competitiveness Hubs (or Trade Hubs) in Southern, Western and Eastern Africa. This success is driven by the development of products that respond to market trends and standards, responsiveness to retailers’ sourcing requirements in design, quality and price, and perseverance despite an often challenging and higher cost operating environment. This panel will present the experience of African exporters, buyers of African products and providers of export and investment support in a discussion of the success factors for penetrating the U.S. market and the relationship between these success factors and the investment needed to 1) achieve market readiness and 2) maintain and expand market share.

Many examples of successful public-private partnerships (PPPs) exist in Africa today. Panelists will discuss the role and power of public-private partnerships in addressing global public health issues including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Panelists will share innovative models of effective PPPs, best practices in mitigating the impact of disease on business in Africa, and lessons learned in creating and sustaining multi-sectoral partnerships.

This workshop will discuss innovative private sector strategies, including various models for the development of business coalitions to address HIV/AIDS. Included in the discussion will be progress to date and future directions for the 28 African Business Coalitions in sub-Saharan Africa as well as other private sector approaches to engaging national and multi-national companies as well as employee federations and small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) in creating sustainable partnerships to respond to HIV and other diseases on the continent.

This workshop will discuss best practices in developing ethical and transparent business practices in health and beyond. This essential shift can help limit corruption, ensure fair and open competition and encourage good governance and accountability for a better business environment. Panelists will also address and share the ongoing development of codes and standards for ethical business practices in countries throughout the continent.

Many African countries that produce raw materials – whether agricultural products, oil or minerals – are seeking ways to add value to those natural resources in-country. For example, diamond producing countries in Africa have set this as one of their national objectives and put in place policies to actively capture a larger portion of the value chain – from the cutting and polishing of rough diamonds through to jewelry manufacture and jewelry retail. The Workshop will discuss how the value addition to diamonds, as a natural resource, and the resulting further development of a downstream diamond industry in Africa, can act as a catalyst and contribute towards creating an enabling environment for investment by other US businesses in Africa and increase US-Africa trade.The objective of the workshop is to interest the US businesses in ancillary and supporting businesses that could develop in Africa around a developing downstream natural resource industry – whether in gold, platinum or diamonds. The workshop will include discussions on:
· Opportunities for and challenges of developing a downstream diamond industry in Africa and factors needed to ensure the sustainability and success of the industry;
· How the downstream diamond industry can be a catalyst for other industries and investment in diamond producing countries;
· infrastructure and investment environment required to develop a sustainable downstream industry - whether in gold, platinum or diamonds.

After strong growth for four years, the African apparel industry that developed in response to AGOA's incentives stumbled in 2005-06 following the end of the MFA quotas on China and other major Asian apparel producers. So far during 2007, it appears that the African apparel sector has stabilized and may even be recovering. But the safeguard quotas on China expire next year, so it is unclear whether another decline is just over the horizon for the African apparel sector. Congress responded to this situation with AGOA amendments last year that (1) extended the third-country fabric rule, (2) created the "commercial availability" provision for local African-origin fabrics to encourage greater vertical integration, and (3) extended duty-free eligibility to non-apparel textile products made in LDCs. But are these provisions cures or just band-aids? A panel of U.S. officials, US apparel buyers/retailers, African apparel producers and apparel trade experts will review the challenges facing the Africa apparel industry, as well as the opportunities for exporting to the U.S. market, including tips from U.S. buyers on marketing strategies and what they look for from African apparel producers.

The workshop will focus on the requirements for doing business in the Automotive Industry in the US. Content will include the background of minority supplier involvement in the Automotive Industry. It will also include capacity requirement of suppliers, commodities required, basic requirements of suppliers, competitive requirements and supplier responsibilities.

Presenter
Mr. Jethro Joseph, Senior Manager Diversity Supplier Development

Workshop 6.4
Aid and Trade

The Aid for Trade needs of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are estimated to be no less than $ 20 billion annually. A large share of the needs is towards trade-related infrastructure. As most countries in the region are small, low income and / or landlocked, a regional approach is complementary to a national approach for infrastructure development. To coordinate the regional funding efforts, and to align national development strategies to investments in trade, this panel aims to bring the perspectives of the donors and recipients in identifying the best way forward. Current status and insights into projects will be presented by World Trade Organization (WTO), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), African Development Bank (AfDB) and United States Trade Representative (USTR), think tanks and private sector.

Panelists
Mr. Joshua Setipa, Counsellor, Office of Director General, WTO
Mr. Sindiso Ngwenya, Deputy Secretary General, COMESA
Ms. Elena Bryan, Deputy Assistant USTR for Capacity Building, USTR
Mr. Henri Minnaar, Principal Trade Expert, African Development Bank (invited)

Resource Person
 Mr. Peter Draper, Research Fellow and Project Head, Development through Trade, South African Institute of International Affairs

Moderator
 Mr. Stephen Lande, President, Manchester Trade

Sponsor: Manchester Trade
 

Panelists will provide the business case for large corporations to source from African SMEs while addressing challenges and opportunities in various African and U.S. markets. The workshop will provide practical approaches to business linkages and highlight experiences from the U.S. and Africa, including a case study from the USAID-funded South African International Business Linkages (SAIBL) program.

This workshop will focus on the advantages of doing business in and through Mauritius to Asia, Middle East and Africa, based on the strategic and unique geo-cultural location of Mauritius. The island offers fresh strategic means to businessmen and investors through a diversified base of emerging industries, a harmonized corporate and personal income tax rates, low costs of doing business, and opportunities of investments through a network of active Double Taxation Avoidance Treaties (DTAs) and Investment Promotion and Protection agreements (IPPAs). Mauritius also offers a refreshingly safe and pleasant place to work and reside. The workshop will present the strong social contract that holds the Government, private sector and the civil society together as the guarantee of continued political and economic stability to nurture business in and through Mauritius. It will also offer an opportunity to discover the wide range of products and services that Mauritius can offer to the world.

A discussion of business opportunities available in the North American market, with a particular focus on the automotive industry, including practical examples of how those opportunities can be accessed through Detroit. Other business sectors to be discussed include: advanced manufacturing, alternative energy, life sciences, transportation research & development and logistics. Business strategies will include how to establish a presence in North America through investment, establishing an inexpensive marketing office or partnering with a Detroit company to do business in North America or in Africa.

Panelists
Mr. John W. Carroll, Jr., Executive Director, Detroit Regional Economic Partnership
Dr. Mulugetta Birru, Ph.D., Executive Director, Wayne County Economic Development
Mr. Vincent Piedt, CEO, ADE Pipes

Moderator
Mr. Richard E. Blouse, Jr., President & CEO, Detroit Regional Chamber

The panel will be a discussion of ideas and examples around how ICT can, and has been, used effectively, to increase the competitiveness of African countries in the global economy by modernizing the modern state and business infrastructure. Citing examples of how companies have achieved this and how government modernization will influence the economy positively. The importance of IT to modernize the services that the public sector needs to provide to the private, such as reducing bureaucracy, fighting corruption, streamlining processes, improving tax collection, controlling spending, education, micro financing, and creating new business. Panelists will highlight examples of projects that are currently underway as well as explore new and innovative ideas.

Panelists
Mr. Arnold Ekpe, CEO, Financial Services Eco Ban (invited)
Mr. Desi Lopez-Fafie, Managing Director, Oracle African Operations

When it comes to being good corporate citizens, Telecoms companies in Africa have led from the front. Various initiatives and successful case studies from participants' organization will be presented in this workshop. In addition, opportunities to further improve the reach and effectiveness of these initiatives by leveraging the latest developments in technology will be discussed.

Angola is among the fastest growing economies in the world. In addition to unprecedented growth in the oil sector, robust growth in agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and the power sector is expected to boost non-oil GDP in 2007 and beyond. In sum, Angola is a country with unlimited potential. This workshop will focus on the investment climate in Angola, highlighting current investment opportunities in the non-oil sector. The workshop will also provide an introduction to the legal and regulatory framework for foreign investment protection and business environment in Angola.

Panelists
Eng. José Joanes André, Vice Minister of Public Works
Dr. Paulo Kwenha, Marketing Director, ANIP (Angola Private Investment Agency)
Ministry of Industry – speaker to be named
Ministry of Transportation – speaker to be named

Moderator
Ms. Eunice de Carvalho, General Manager Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Chevron/Angola

This workshop will feature the newest foreign development agency of the US government – the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). MCC is working to promote development in Africa with over $3 billion in investments in more than a dozen African countries. MCC speakers will provide information on how the MCC operates, the MCC country partner programs in Africa, and the procurement and investment opportunities open to international and local businesses and investors.

The goal of the session will be to raise awareness on the richness of Africa as a growth market for tourism investment. Discussants will present key development issues, including capital, infrastructure, culture and heritage, social responsibility, education, and the environment and offer innovative solutions for shaping the continent’s future tourism development agenda. Discussants will also relate to the need to market and brand Africa as a tourism destination in a way that benefits the continent as a whole and each individual country.

A number of countries in Africa, including two of the largest economies – South Africa and Nigeria – are moving forward with restructuring their policy and regulatory frameworks to bring private power producers into the market. Several major Independent Power Producers (IPPs) are on the verge of moving forward. Yet, there is still caution on the part of governments regarding the incorporation of IPPs into the sector. This panel will offer an overview of the state of play of IPPs in Africa; discuss major issues regarding liberalization of the sector, including perceived risks and challenges; and examine what the private sector can bring to the table in terms of technologies, expertise, and experience.

The Aviation and Economic Development workshop will discuss the linkage between air transportation development in Africa and economic prosperity. The workshop also will address the need for ongoing skills training; the development of human resources to maintain air transportation safety requirements and air transportation facilities; as well as the unique vulnerabilities of air transportation infrastructure. Panelists will assess the increased international and inter-regional trade as well as the essential requirements in commercial, private, passenger, and cargo aviation for any country seeking domestic and international trade growth.

The Developing Air Cargo Business workshop will discuss the rapid delivery of air cargo products and the strengths of the air cargo delivery system through Africa. The workshop will provide a forum to assess cargo air transportation infrastructure development, as well as the impact of the new cargo terminal in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia that positions Ethiopia as a cargo regional hub. Ethiopian Airlines will discuss the additional freighter aircrafts to Ethiopian Airlines fleet that will provide fast, reliable, safe, and competitive air cargo services of horticulture, coffee, hides, skins and leather, and oilseeds to/from various points in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

Panelists
Mr. Tewolde G. Mariam, Chief Operating Officer, Ethiopian Airlines
Mr. Steve Humphreys, Chief of Party, Fintrac Ethiopia
Mr. João Miguel Santos, Director, International Sales, The Boeing Company
Dr. Cris Muyunda, Senior Agricultural Advisor, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
Mr. Luke Mbewe, President, Zambian Export Growers Association (invited)

The need for facilitating regional security, mobility and market access through secure identification or documentation has significantly become important. The immediacy is highlighted by the excitement and anticipation for international sports competitions scheduled in 2010 to be held in Africa. Furthermore, longer-term requirements for good governance are benefited by secure ID systems and border control such as national ID cards, drivers' licenses, ILO-mandated seafarer's I.D., and voter's registration issuance. By 2010, the ICAO will require machine-readable passports of all travellers into member airports. Moreover, secure travel documents support the NEPAD's priorities of efficiency, accelerating intra-African trade and tourism, and of improving market access by local businesses that transport essential goods and services across regional and political borders. In this session, Ministers/Representatives of Home Affairs and their Directorates of Interior or Customs will gain knowledge of global best practices and technologies, and benefit from information on capacity-building for secure identification and efficient cross-border programs. This workshop will also explore opportunities in such programs for companies involved in business-to-government, and business-to-business activities.

The panel will explore how South Africa is approaching the era of increasing nuclear build. Perspectives to be discussed will include how partnerships were formed elsewhere between private enterprise and government, the partnership needed to ensure that skills and standards are embedded in the workforce, and the partnerships between construction and local manufacturing firms to have a supply chain that supports sustainable build.