4th Annual West Africa Trade & Commodity Finance Conference

Description

Exporta are delighted to announce that the 4th Annual West Africa Trade & Commodity Finance Conference will be moving from its London base to Accra, Ghana, for 2012. The event has gained immense support over previous years and will now act as the central meeting point for the regional and international trade finance community in a new local setting. There will also be simultaneous English/French translation.

As the ascendancy of Africa continues to ignite interest from all corners of the world, primarily due to rising global commodity demands, the conference is ideally positioned to explore key issues affecting trade flows and bring together the main protagonists to discuss the extensive opportunities and challenges the region holds.

Key decision makers from the region’s major corporate and financial organisations will take part in panel discussions and give their expert opinion through individual presentations while all the time encouraging delegates to join the debate and interact with speakers.

Among the topics to be covered:
•Is West Africa still the global deal hotspot for traders?
•Trade in West Africa: Hoping for the best and preparing for the worst
•Analysing the impact of government risk on African financial institutions
•Developing the full cycle of cocoa production in West Africa
•Helping alleviate risk with trade credit and political risk insurance
•The development of the West Africa oil and gas industry
•Exploring Francophone West Africa
•What role does Asia have to play in the future of West Africa?
•Profiling opportunities within Angola
•Examining the latest trends within the syndicated loan market
•Logistics: What can be done to increase intra- African trade?
•What best practices should exporters undertake in collateral management?

Who should attend?
•Trade, export and commodity finance heads and directors
•Corporate finance directors, CFOs and treasurers
•Insurance underwriters and brokers
•Export credit agencies
•Multilaterals
•Solution providers
•Lawyers and consultants
•Market analysts and policy advisors

As with all Exporta events, networking is a central theme of the conference and special networking breaks and receptions are created so attendees can engage with peers while creating new business contacts.
 

Brochure

Programme

♦♦♦ Day 1 ♦♦♦

08.00 Registration and refreshments

09.00 Chairman’s opening remarks
Joe Mensah, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana International Bank

09.10 Keynote: What impact can West Africa have on the global economy?
Millison Narh, Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Ghana
• The facts and figures: Profiling trade flows and growth expectations
• How has Africa responded to global economic challenges?
• How attractive is the market compared with other emerging markets?
• Future challenges: Is the biggest threat to African growth internal or external?

09.35 Panel discussion: Is West Africa still the global deal hotspot for traders?
Moderator: Ian Henderson, Director, Texel Capital
Emeka Uzomba, Head of Treasury & Correspondent Banking, Diamond Bank
Vernon Darko, President, Equipxp
Bikash Prasad, General Manager, Finance & Regional Finance Head for West Africa, Olam International
Sameer Gupta, Financial Director, Ghana & Area Finance Controller, West African Operations, Stallion Group
• What affect has the eurozone had on the region? And to what extent has this impacted on traders?
• Which commodities are currently creating the greatest opportunities in the market?
• Liquidity challenge: How easy is it to find the right kind of financing at the right price?
• How are fluctuating commodity prices affecting both intra-regional and external trade?
• Analysing the impact of a changing political landscape in the region

10.30 Networking break

11.15 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?
• What is the impact of sovereign default on financial institutions and trade finance?
• How can foreign and local financial institutions mitigate this risk?

11.40 Sub-Saharan corporate and structured trade finance solutions: The Nigerian experience
Abdulrahman Yinusa, Executive Director & Chief Financial Officer, Diamond Bank
• Analysing the role and importance of Nigeria in the wider West Africa region
• What are the most popular models for structured trade financing?
• How does Nigeria’s commodities export base and reliance on imports affect trade finance?
• To what extent is Nigeria a high risk market for financiers and corporates?

12.05 Panel discussion: Trade in West Africa: Hoping for the best and preparing for the worst
Moderator: Shannon Manders, Deputy Editor & Supplements Editor, Global Trade Review (GTR)
Richard Agbenu, Head of Corporate Finance & Structured Trade, Ghana International Bank
Zhann Meyer, Head Africa Business, Global Commodity Finance, Nedbank Capital
Rupert Cutler, Managing Director, Financial and Political Risk, Newman Martin & Buchan
Craig Polkinghorne, Global Head & Director, Structured Trade & Commodity Finance, Standard Bank
Christian Karam, Head, Africa Desk, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
• Measuring the affect of the continued eurozone difficulties on regional trade and commodity finance
• Discussing the availability of finance: Are banks lending?
• Profiling collaborations between regional and global financial institutions
• Which countries and sectors are generating the most commodity deals?
• Which financial institutions are taking on the risk and financing deals?
• How successful is the flow of goods between the Anglophone and Francophone countries in the region?

13.00 Lunch

Choose between Stream A and Stream B

Stream A: Commodity market focus

Chairman: Joe Mensah, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana International Bank

14.30 Exploring the Ghanaian cocoa sector and structured syndications
Anthony Fofie, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Cocoa Board
• Outlining the factors contributing to the success of the West African cocoa sector
• How are centralised platforms aiding the growth of local producers?
• What financing and support facilities are available for regional producers?
• Exploring the financing facilitates of Ghana Cocobod’s annual PXF and syndication deals

14.55 Panel discussion: Developing the full cycle of cocoa production in West Africa
Moderator: Rosalind Kudoadzi, Partner, Head of Business & Industry, Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah
Victor Ezenwoko, Executive Director, Regional Businesses, Diamond Bank
Christophe Bourges, Head of Commodity & Structured Trade Finance, HSBC
• Profiling the current set-up of the wider West African cocoa industry
• How can the region increase financial returns from such large scale production?
• What are the challenges of implementing a full cycle process from production to finished product?
• Considering the effect of fluctuating global commodity prices on export levels
• Are the biggest challenges to the region’s cocoa industry internal or external?

15.45 Networking break

16.15 How is the West Africa oil and gas industry likely to develop in light of escalating global demands?
Rolake Akinkugbe, Head, Energy Research, Ecobank
• Assessing the impact of the global financial climate on West Africa’s oil and gas industry and producers
• Tracking the oil and gas prospects and potential of other West African producers
• How will the infrastructure challenge impact the regional oil trade and regional exports?
• Implications of recent downstream energy reforms for the oil financing business and oil trade
• The future importance of gas in the region’s energy mix

16.40 Panel discussion: How is the region financing and increasing the growth of the wider energy sector?
Moderator: Taiwo Adeniji, Director & Head, Financial Institutions & Advisory Services, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC)
Kojo Bentsi-Enchill, Partner & Head of Energy & Natural Resources, Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah
Adam Rowe, Executive Director, Head of Trade & Commodity Finance, Energy, Rabobank
• Choosing the product: Analysing the popularity of structured financing
• Analysing international energy prices and the significance for the region
• What do other West African countries have to offer in terms of production potential?
• How does energy financing differ from one country to another within the region?

17.30 Close of Day One followed by evening networking reception

Stream B: Exploring Francophone West Africa, syndications and PXF agreements

Chairman: Jean-Louis Ekra, President, Afreximbank

14.30 Panel discussion: How is Francophone West Africa financing trade?
Moderator: Maninder Bhandari, Managing Director, Encore Solutions
Denys Denya, Executive Vice-President, Afreximbank
Arnaud Preney, Senior Sales Manager, Commodity & Structured Trade Finance, Soft Commodities, HSBC
Anne-Marie Woolley, Director & Head of Trade Finance, Africa, Standard Bank
Jaures Aka Yao Okou, Director, Trade West Africa Consulting
• The role of Francophone countries in West Africa
• Assessing the liquidity levels and risk appetite of local banks for trade finance
• Measuring the impact and effect of volatile global markets on regional trade
• What are the main characteristics that differentiate and join Francophone and Anglophone trade?
• What needs to be done to increase intra-regional trade? And how easy is this?

14.20 What do Francophone and Anglophone actors need to know when trading with one another?
Mouhamed Kebe, Partner, Geni & Kebe
• What are the primary legal considerations need to be taken into account?
• Outlining the main differences in legal and jurisdictional considerations
• Disputes, claims and trials: Where to start litigation?
• Considering the impact of political uncertainty on confidence in the various legal systems

15.45 Networking break

16.15 Moving goods to and from Francophone countries
Alan Cassels, Managing Director, Equatorial Africa, DHL Express
• Landlocked: Using logistics to increase trade through sea ports
• Which industries would benefit most from the integration of local regulations?
• Internal or external: Where will infrastructure investment come from?
• Navigating tariffs and best practices in cross-border goods movement

16.40 Examining the latest trends within the syndicated loan market
Pamela Green, Director, Syndications, Standard Chartered Bank
• In what ways are current market conditions affecting investor liquidity?
• Which institutions are lending and which have exited the marketplace?
• What kind of finance structures can be syndicated?
• Considering success factors for emerging market financing

17.05 Assessing the impact of PXF agreements on international commodity finance markets
Mike Johnstone, Director, Loan Market Association (LMA)
• What authority does the LMA have for introducing documentation?
• What is the benefit of introducing a standard pre-export finance document?
• Outlining the key issues addressed by the new document
• How easy would it be to implement this kind of standardisation tool in West Africa?

17.30 Close of Day One followed by evening networking reception

♦♦♦ Day 2 ♦♦♦

08.00 Registration and refreshments

Choose between Stream A and Stream B

Stream A: Examining external factors influencing the region

08.55 Chairman’s opening remarks
Anne-Marie Woolley, Director & Head of Trade Finance, Africa, Standard Bank

09.00 Panel discussion: Can the region’s commodity exports keep up with demand?
Moderator: Adam Rowe, Executive Director, Head of Trade & Commodity Finance, Energy, Rabobank
Clarine Stenfert, Managing Director, Africa Trade Head, Citi
Paul-Harry Aithnard, Group Head, Research, Ecobank
Joana Bannerman, Assistant General Manager, Guaranty Trust Bank Ghana
• Is there capacity and desire in the market to support both soft and hard commodity exports in equal measure?
• Analysing the current state of inflation and impact this has on commodity prices
• How is the region managing agricultural price and production risk?
• Looking beyond West Africa’s leading commodity producers: What do the others have to offer?

09.45 What role does Asia have to play in the future of West Africa?
Kissy Agyeman-Togobo, Partner, Songhai Advisory
• How are trade flows currently developing between these two global giants?
• Who are the main players in Africa-Asia trade relations?
• Profiling the sectors that are creating the greatest interest from Asian consumers
• What effect will large scale FDI into West Africa have on long-term prosperity?
• Is there a danger that West Africa could become too reliant on Asia as an export destination?

10.10 Country focus: Profiling opportunities within Angola
Edward George, Soft Commodities Specialist & Lusophone Africa Expert, Ecobank
• What are the facts and figures behind Angola’s explosive growth rate? And is this sustainable?
• Examining the importance of the oil and diamond industries to the economy
• Putting it into perspective: Where does Angola stand in relation to other regional players?
• What opportunities are available for bilateral trade with Angola?
• Are the structures in place to control revenue from exports sufficient?

10.35 Developing trade between Latin America and West Africa
Keith Martin, International Trade & Investment Consultant, IFC
• Tracking increased trade and investment flows between the two regions and identifying new opportunities
• Examining current Latin American trade and investment in West Africa
• Joining China, India and the West in the race to tap into African resources and markets
• How will changing demographics open the door for the development of new sectors?
• Does the commodity export focus of both regions create a healthy competition?

11.00 Networking Break

Stream B: Operational best practices and risk mitigation

08.55 Chairman’s opening remarks
Abdulrahman Yinusa, Executive Director & Chief Financial Officer, Diamond Bank

09.00 What is the key to survival and success in the West Africa trading environment?
Vanessa Adams, Chief of Party, West Africa Trade Hub (USAID)
Stephanie Diakite, Advisor, Finance & Institutions, West Africa Trade Hub (USAID)
• What is the best way to navigate between perceived and actual risk to maximise profit?
• Integrating the development assistance paradigm to boost commodity trade
• Developing local financial institution capacity to realise scale-up potential of intra-regional and export trade transactions
• Impact investment: How can West Africa trade stakeholders access and direct ‘impact investment’ to drive high profit deals and sustainable social outcomes?
• Measuring the value of investment in non-traditional soft commodities with significant future prospects

09.25 Logistics: What can be done to increase intra-African trade?
Charles Brewer, Managing Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, DHL Express
• Tariffs/customs/movement: Profiling solutions to breaking down the barriers to intra-regional trade
• How profitable can West Africa - 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?

09.50 What best practices should exporters undertake in collateral management?
Christine Grolimund, Vice-President, Global Operations, Collateral Management Services, SGS Group
• What are the challenges faced in warehousing and storage of commodities?
• Analysing independence of operations and negotiating complex legal structures
• Pricing, staffing and fulfilment of responsibilities
• Ensuring provision of the correct insurances to fulfil obligations

10.15 Panel discussion: Helping alleviate risk with trade credit and political risk insurance
Moderator: Maninder Bhandari, Managing Director, Encore Solutions
Charles Weller, Country Head Nigeria, Deutsche Bank
Kit Brownlees, Managing Director, Credit and Political Risks, Gallagher London
Lodewyk Meyer, Director, Norton Rose
• How has the trade credit and political risk insurance market changed since 2011?
• Market balance: Do insurers still have a ‘wait and see’ attitude?
• How much risk are corporates and banks willing to take? And how much risk should they be left with?
• Does one size fit all? Exploring customised and tailored products/services

11.00 Networking Break

Final session: Main room

11.45 How will Basel III affect a client’s cost of borrowing and access to cash?
Charles Weller, Country Head Nigeria, Deutsche Bank
• An update of the Basel committee’s perspective on trade finance
• To what extent will the new legislation affect liquidity and trade levels?
• Has the priority shifted toward the balance sheet for banks?
• Does Basel III have the potential to disrupt West Africa’s growth?

12.10 Case study: Profiling innovation within current transactions
Gabriel Buck, Head of Capex Financing Solutions, Barclays Capital
• Highlighting recent transactions and benefits provided for capex financing
• Benefits provided by including a broad range of financial institutions in the transaction
• How such transactions can provide a cheaper source of funding compared to the bank/bond markets
• Supporting strong corporate governance in both procurement and financing processes

12.40 Panel discussion: Is the scene set for export finance to realise its full potential in West Africa?
Moderator: Yusuf Khan, Head of Structured Trade & Export Finance, Africa, Citi
Okey Oramah, Executive Vice-President, Afreximbank
Ove Nyström, Senior Underwriter ICT Middle East and Africa, EKN
Tony Uzoebo, Director, Business Development & Banking, Zenith Bank
• Which countries within West Africa are proving most popular for export finance opportunities?
• Examining the importance of banking, ECA and multilateral collaborations in providing liquidity
• What export credit agency support is available for large industrial projects?
• Outlining the sectors that are benefitting from strong export finance growth
• What is the current appetite for structured export finance? And is this theme set to continue?

13.30 Close of conference followed by 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 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.

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