4th Annual East Africa Trade & Commodity Finance Conference

Event Review

Over 150 local and international delegates converged on Nairobi for Exporta’s 2012 East Africa Trade & Commodity Finance Conference, which consisted of prominent multinational and SME corporates, local and international financial institutions and all those trade finance practitioners involved in this exciting and dynamic region.

As the economies of East Africa continue to rise and the world focuses on the abundant opportunities within Africa, the conference was well timed to tackle key issues facing the region. The topics included whether or not the fundamentals are in place for East Africa to realise its potential, how the EAC should develop its energy sector in light of rising global energy demands, the perception of investment risk in East Africa, tea production capacity, risk appetite of trade and commodity financiers, collateral management best practices, challenges of intra-regional trade, the importance of the ICT sector, as well as many other subjects covered over the course of the one day conference.

The keynote address by Mr. Nick Mbuvi, Corporate Banking Director of Barclays Kenya, opened the conference with an informative macro outlook for the region’s prospects. Highly respected corporate organisations, such as Engen Kenya, Ericsson, Gulf Power and DHL Express, also gave their unique perspectives into the financing priorities and operational challenges of undertaking business in East Africa.

As with all Exporta events, networking was a key theme throughout the day. Special networking breaks, hosted by DHL Express, gave delegates the opportunity to build relationships with key partners. An evening drinks reception, hosted by Barclays, also enabled delegates to discuss the day’s agenda in a more informal setting.

The conference welcomed support by eminent institutions, including Standard Bank, the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Nedbank Capital, Barclays Bank, DHL Express, the ITFC, FIMBank, Afreximbank, Norton Rose and KCB.
 

Description

Over 150 local and international delegates converged on Nairobi for Exporta’s 2012 East Africa Trade & Commodity Finance Conference, which consisted of prominent multinational and SME corporates, local and international financial institutions and all those trade finance practitioners involved in this exciting and dynamic region.

As the economies of East Africa continue to rise and the world focuses on the abundant opportunities within Africa, the conference was well timed to tackle key issues facing the region. The topics included whether or not the fundamentals are in place for East Africa to realise its potential, how the EAC should develop its energy sector in light of rising global energy demands, the perception of investment risk in East Africa, tea production capacity, risk appetite of trade and commodity financiers, collateral management best practices, challenges of intra-regional trade, the importance of the ICT sector, as well as many other subjects covered over the course of the one day conference.

The keynote address by Mr. Nick Mbuvi, Corporate Banking Director of Barclays Kenya, opened the conference with an informative macro outlook for the region’s prospects. Highly respected corporate organisations, such as Engen Kenya, Ericsson, Gulf Power and DHL Express, also gave their unique perspectives into the financing priorities and operational challenges of undertaking business in East Africa.

As with all Exporta events, networking was a key theme throughout the day. Special networking breaks, hosted by DHL Express, gave delegates the opportunity to build relationships with key partners. An evening drinks reception, hosted by Barclays, also enabled delegates to discuss the day’s agenda in a more informal setting.

The conference welcomed support by eminent institutions, such as Standard Bank, the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Nedbank Capital, Barclays Bank, DHL Express, the ITFC, FIMBank, Afreximbank, Norton Rose and KCB.

Event Photos

Brochure

08.00 Registration and refreshments

08.45 Chairman’s opening remarks
Craig Polkinghorne, Global Head & Director, Structured Trade & Commodity Finance, Standard Bank

09.00 Keynote: Are the fundamentals in place for East Africa to realise its potential?
Nick Mbuvi, Corporate Banking Director, Barclays Bank Kenya
• How are governmental economic visions increasing confidence in the regions’ trading landscape?
• To what extent have events in the West (Eurozone/US Dollar liquidity) affected trade?
• How is East Africa promoting its commodities to new lucrative global emerging markets?
• Assessing the challenges facing the EAC and the barriers to growth

09.25 Panel discussion: How much risk are trade and commodity financiers prepared to take?
Moderator: Lodewyk Meyer, Director, Norton Rose
Kennedy Shimekha, Head, Trade Finance, Barclays Bank Kenya
K. W. Mwangi, Head of Trade Finance, Commercial Bank of Africa
Sekete Mokgehle, Head, Global Finance, Nedbank Capital
Gwen Mwaba, Senior Vice-President, Structured Trade Finance, Standard Bank London
Hiren Singharay, Managing Director, Regional Head of Loan Syndications, Standard Chartered Bank
• Assessing the importance of collaborations and syndications between local and international banks
• How has local currency depreciation and the subsequent rise in interest rates affected pricing?
• Which commodities are proving to be the most popular among trade and commodity practitioners?
• Basel III: What does it mean for East African trade growth?
• What is the biggest obstacle to financing trade in the region? And what is the solution?
 

10.20 Networking break

11.05 Analysing the impact of government risk on African financial institutions
Jorim Schraven, Manager, Financial Institutions Africa, FMO
• How are African financial institutions exposed to government risk?
• How does this compare to the situation in Europe?
• What is the impact of sovereign default on financial institutions and trade finance?
• How can foreign and local financial institutions mitigate this risk?

11.30 Controlling the product: Evaluating the growing importance of collateral management
Andrew Barr-Sim, Managing Director, Drum Resources
• What are the challenges faced in the warehousing and storage of commodities?
• How will global demand for more African commodities effect collateral management in East Africa?
• Which finance products are best suited to collateral management?
• Should the collateral management industry be regulated and improved? And is it possible?

11.55 Panel discussion: How should the EAC develop its energy sector in light of rising global energy demands?
Moderator: Taiwo Adeniji, Director & Head, Financial Institutions and Advisory Services, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC)
Powell Maimba, Managing Director, Engen Kenya
Abubakar Ali, Chief Financial Officer, Gulf Power
Vishal Khagram, Director, Riftcot
Heike Trischmann, Senior Associate, Watson, Farley & Williams
• Profiling the development of the oil, gas and energy sectors in East Africa
• Which global export markets are creating the greatest yields and margins?
• Analysing product choice: How is the energy sector financing imports and exports?
• Considering East Africa ports as a gateway for energy exports
• Which infrastructure projects are proving to be the greatest priority? And where will this investment come from?

12.45 Lunch

14.00 How political and credit risk insurance can facilitate commodity trading
Jef Vincent, Chief Underwriting Officer, Africa Trade Insurance Agency
• Profiling innovate approaches to address the needs and desires of clients
• How can political and trade credit risk insurance be used to facilitate financing?
• In what ways have global events, such as the Arab Spring and eurozone crisis, affected insurance attitudes?
• How much of a ‘safe guard’ is insurance to investors thinking of entering the region?

14.25 Tea focus: What is obstructing the region’s ability to increase its tea production capacity?
Edward George, Soft Commodities Specialist, Ecobank
• The facts and figures: Profiling East Africa's tea production and trade flows
• In what ways are fluctuating global commodity prices affecting exporters?
• Borrowing cost: Is the right kind of funding available at the right kind of price?
• How can the EAC promote the competitiveness of its products?
• What do COMESA members need to do to compete with other global tea markets?

14.50 Case study: Increasing involvement of Middle Eastern banks in local structured finance deals
Mohammed Shaqra, Regional Head, Financial Institutions, Mashreq Bank Dubai
• Middle East – East Africa: Profiling the growth of bilateral trade opportunities
• How important are collaborations between local and international financial institutions in creating liquidity?
• What do banks in the Middle East have to offer in terms of expertise and funding?
• Future partnerships: What are the risks and challenges of growing credit supply?

15.15 Logistics: What can be done to increase intra-African trade?
Alan Cassels, Managing Director, Equatoril Africa, DHL Express
• Tariffs/customs/movement: Profiling solutions to breaking down the barriers to intra-regional trade
• How profitable can the EAC - and Africa as a whole - become if these obstacles are overcome?
• The rise of emerging economies and the importance of creating stable trade routes
• How can a trader best utilise and adapt their supply chain for maximum effectiveness?

15.40 Networking break

16.10 Is the improvement and expansion of infrastructure the main priority?
Johnmark Wandolo, Director, Corporate Banking, Kenya Commercial Bank
• Apart from political considerations, is infrastructure the key to East Africa’s long-term success?
• Which infrastructure developments are a priority? And how will these be funded?
• Case study: Profiling recent success stories and the impact on trade
• Will investment for East African infrastructure come mainly from internal or external sources?

16.35 Panel discussion: How significant is the I.T. and telecom sector in boosting regional trade?
Moderator: Sukirat Kochar, Chief Operating Officer, Encore Solutions
Kudakwashe Matereke, Manager, Trade Finance, Afreximbank
Malin Tegnér, Senior Underwriter, ICT Sector, EKN
Suhayl Esmailjee, Strategic Program Director, Ericsson
Peter Kegode, Secretary, Institute of Certified Securities and Investment Analyst (ICSIA)
Gwen Mwaba, Senior Vice-President, Structured Trade Finance, Standard Bank London
• Profiling East Africa’s pioneering I.T. and telecom sectors
• Analysing competition: What opportunities does lower pricing create?
• Which infrastructure developments are a priority? And what happens after these priorities are met?
• How is FDI and ECA involvement expanding the region’s infrastructure investment?
• Telephone banking solutions: How Kenya is leading the way in mobile innovation

17.30 Close of conference followed by evening networking reception

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 venue.

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. 

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