4th Annual Africa Trade & Export Finance Conference

Event Review

With the growth of south-south and non-OECD trade a recurring theme in the global economic recovery, and with fluctuating prices of key commodities such as coffee, sugar and cocoa having a huge impact, Africa is uniquely positioned as a market providing exceptional opportunities for those willing to invest.

Exporta's 4th Annual Trade & Export Finance Conference was therefore timely, with the leading trade and export finance leaders active in the continent gathering in Cape Town on March 9-10 to discuss key themes. The vast opportunities provided by Africa as an emerging market to match the likes of India and China was demonstrated by a strong turnout over the two days, with over 150 registered delegates.

Utilising a wide ranging format that allows for both detailed presentations and involved panel discussions, issues covered included liquidity challenges, agribusiness, structuring trade deals, the role of DFIs, multilaterals and ECAs, legal challenges, infrastructural investment, private equity opportunities and the current political situation in Zimbabwe.

Sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank, Nedbank, Afreximbank, FMO, China Systems and Ince & Co, the conference provided numerous networking opportunities, with an enthusiastic audience keen to get down to business, while the close of Day One was followed by a special drinks reception on Table Mountain, providing spectacular views of the African landscape.

A strong supporter of African trade, Exporta will convene in London later this year for its 2nd Annual West Africa Trade & Commodity Finance Conference.

Description

Now in its fourth year, Exporta's Annual Africa Trade & Export Finance Conference in Cape Town is a well-established gathering of only the most senior decision-makers within the Sub-Saharan trade and export sector. 

Rich in resources and with a vast number of natural assets, Africa offers much to a global market affected by high commodity prices and increased demand, with large levels of economic activity across many countries. Moreover, the global liquidity shortage and difficulties faced in securing lines of credit from international investors, coupled with the various regulatory and reform challenges provided by the continent, ensures the need for trade, structured commodity and export finance products to facilitate deals.

Topics to be discussed over the course of the two days will include:

• Reviewing the current economic climate and assessing opportunities and risks
• Generating liquidity to support trade activities in challenging times
• Supply chain management: financing commodity trading through collateral control
• Challenges faced in structuring trade deals across Africa
• Prime opportunities for investment: highlighting key sectors such as agribusiness
• Assessing the role China has played in reshaping Africa's risk and investment landscape Providing legal protection for loans and investment in the region
• Considering the role of multilateral agencies such as DFIs and ECAs in the region
• Country focus: what does the future hold for Zimbabwe?
• Project financing and infrastructure development

All delegates will have the chance to hear detailed insight on the African market from the region's leading experts; enjoy thought-provoking debate through various panel discussions and network amongst their global peers. An evening reception will also be provided, open to all participants.

Who should attend:

• Financiers
• Exporters
• Importers
• Traders
• Local and international banks
• Consultants
• Market analysts
• Policy advisors
• Insurers
• Lawyers
• Export credit agencies
• Multilaterals

Event Photos

Brochure

Programme

Day One

08.15 Registration and refreshments

09.00 Chairman's introduction
Willem Klaassens, Managing Director & Global Head of Commodity Traders & Agribusiness, Standard Chartered Bank

09.15 The African market: a wealth of opportunity
Jean-Louis Ekra, President, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank)
• Considering the evolving landscape within the continent and changing trade flows
• Strengthening export-driven growth to other emerging markets and identifying growth opportunities
• Evaluating the success of attempts at greater regional integration cross-continent
• How does growth in Africa compare to other emerging markets over the last 18 months?

09.45 Panel discussion: Generating liquidity to support trade initiatives
Moderator: Dominic Broom, Head of Treasury Services Market Development, EMEA, BNY Mellon
Kanayo Awani, Director, Trade Finance & Branches, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank)
Gregory Havermahl, Structured Trade & Commodity Finance, Fixed income, Currency & Commodities, Rand Merchant Bank
Fedja Canters, Investment Officer, Africa, FMO
• Discovering untapped sources of funding and accessing new sources of liquidity
• Overcoming the restricted capabilities of local institutions in converging treasury and trade services
• Assessing the need for investment in integrated trade solutions to fund the production process
• Maintaining competitive advantage for local corporates in the global marketplace

10.45 Networking break

11.15 Investing in local industries: challenges faced in the agriculture sector
Avril Stassen, Investment Advisor, Agri-Vie
• Identifying potential areas for direct investment in agriculture
• What are investors looking for and what are the potential returns?
• Assessing trends in pricing and demand and the impact on the financial sector
• What value is being added to local economies and who are they selling to?

11.45 Legal steps to minimise risk when working in an emerging market
Carol Searle, Partner, Political & Trade Credit Risks, Ince & Co
• Avoiding regional differences in customs, practices, rules and regulations
• Accounting for operational, credit and political risk
• Protection under international law
• Laying off risk
• Practical advice for dealing with claims, resolutions and matters of recourse

12.15 The role of DFIs in stimulating trade finance in Sub Saharan Africa
Jorim Schraven, Manager, Financial Institutions Africa, FMO
• The need for effective deployment of credit lines to Africa
• Investing in sustainable and profitable businesses in developing countries
• Incorporating a signing ceremony on a recently completed transaction

12.45 Official FMO signing ceremony

13.00 Lunch

14.00 Collateral control
Bogdan Rascanu, Global Head of Development & Structured Finance, Ace Audit Control and Expertise Global
• Considering how the process of collateral management has evolved in the Sub-Saharan marketplace
• Structuring solutions to ensure the release of liquidity at optimum points in the supply chain
• Operational risks and inefficiencies: impact on transactions, communication and operational gaps

14.30 Panel discussion: The practicalities of structuring trade deals in Africa
Moderator: Tapiwa Shamu, Investment Banking Originator, Nedbank Capital
Zhann Meyer, Director of Agriculture, Commodity Traders & Agribusiness, Standard Chartered Bank
Andrew Barr-Sim, Managing Director, Drum Resources
Tosin Adewuyi, Executive Director, Head of Trade Finance Africa, J.P. Morgan
• How the gradual recovery of global markets has affected structured trade finance in the region
• Assessing risk appetite for local African banks compared to international institutions
• The fluctuating price of commodities and the impact on negotiating trade arrangements
• Considering the shift in the involvement of external actors such as ECAs, DFIs and multilaterals

15.30 Networking break

16.00 Panel discussion: The increasing importance of ECA-backed financing
Moderator: Patrick Krasa, Director, Project & Export Finance, Standard Chartered Bank
Michael Creighton, Head of Sace SpA, Sace Sub Saharan Africa
Vinod Goel, Resident Representative, Export-Import Bank of India
Maëlia Dufour, Head of Division, Public Guaranties Direction, Coface
Philna Potgieter, Head, Export Credit Finance, Nedbank Capital
• Continuing gaps in credit and cross-border appetite among banks
• Compensating for the exit of many banks from the export finance market post-recession
• Increased mandates within export credit agencies and enhanced capacity
• The importance of supporting local businesses within a ‘risk market’
• Is there a need for emerging market ECAs?

16.45 Chairman’s closing summary and remarks

17.00 Buses depart from Table Bay Hotel to Table Mountain evening drinks reception

Day Two

09.00 Chairman's introduction
Jorim Schraven, Manager, Financial Institutions Africa, FMO

09.15 Country focus: What does the future hold for Zimbabwe?
Thea Fourie, Southern African Economist, IHS Global Insight
• Key development in the Zimbabwe economy since the signing of Global Political Agreement
• Providing funds to meet working capital requirements and assist local businesses
• Benefits provided to neighbouring countries through the revival of Zimbabwean trade

09.45 Best practices in supporting trade competitiveness in Sub-Saharan Africa
Jeffrey Jackson, Senior Private Sector Advisor, USAID Africa Bureau
• Discussing where international donors have a competitive advantage in promoting trade and investment in Africa
• Summarising the latest observations on where progress is being made
• Hypothesising potential interventions to alleviate ongoing constraints to competitiveness

10.15 The recovery process and 10 lessons from the recovery practice
Heleen Rijkens, Director, Omni Bridgeway
• A closer look at investment protection from a South African perspective
• The importance of claim intelligence for your recovery strategy
• Compliance issues for recoveries in emerging markets and the use of intermediaries
• Recent developments in the field of litigation and arbitration funding

10.45 Networking break

11.15 Case study: Private equity investment into Africa
Neil Crowder, CEO, Chayton Capital
• Assessing international interest in Africa's private equity market
• Agricultural investing in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Personal experiences of investing in Africa

11.45 Project financing and infrastructural development: who is responsible?
Moderator: Kofi Adomakoh, Director, Project & Export Development Finance, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank)
Michael Fischer, Regional Director, Southern Africa, DEG
Bart Ellermeijer, CFO, Duyvis Wiener
Jeff Midzuk, Director, Project & Export Finance, Standard Chartered Bank
• Tracking efforts to increase capacity in overburdened sectors such as energy and transportation
• Difficulties faced when launching new projects in a risk-averse market with limited credit availability
• Providing case studies of public-private partnerships (PPPs) across a range of sectors

12.45 Concluding remarks and close of conference

13.00 Networking lunch

Venue

Accommodation

Delegates are responsible for the arrangement and payment of their own travel and accommodation.  Upon registering to attend this event, Exporta will inform you of how to book accommodation at the conference venue.  If you require this information in advance of making your booking please contact events@exportagroup.com.

Sponsors

Sponsorship opportunities including exhibition stands are available for this event.

To become a sponsor, please contact Tom Whitehead, Head of Sponsorship Sales at twhitehead@exportagroup.com.

Exporta's events have a global reputation, renowned for superb networking opportunities and educational presentations by high-profile speakers.

Time after time our events attract the leading companies in our market as sponsors.

See below for a full list of our Event Sponsors, Institutional Partners and Media Partners and click on the logo to visit their web site. 

Delegate Packs