West Africa Trade & Commodity Finance Conference

Event Review

This is one of the best conferences I have attended – high caliber speakers, who gave detailed and practical insights into the issues discussed. The organisation and networking opportunities were excellent. As a speaker I felt fully informed and supported by the organising team both before and during the conference itself. Flawlessly executed. Thank you.

Omaru Badara Sisay

Deputy Head of Africa Forecasting, Exclusive Analysis Ltd.

 West Africa's bountiful opportunities in the commodities sector were the focus of Exporta's West Africa Trade & Commodity Finance Conference, which convened in London on November 19.

 Sponsored by Afreximbank, FBN Bank UK, JP Morgan, DLA Piper and Nationwide Equipment, the event was opened and chaired by Jean-Louis Ekra, president of Afreximbank, who introduced a wide range of leading experts on the commodities sector in the region.

 Sessions covered challenges in the oil and gas sector, commodity trading practices, political risk considerations (with specific focus on the Niger Delta) and the future stability of the West African banking sector, following a number of recent reforms, particularly in Nigeria. Other issues discussed included corporate case studies, infrastructural investment and a discussion on the growth of Ohada law.

The only trade finance event to have been held specifically for the West Africa region, the event proved a tremendous success, and looks set to be a regular inclusion on the Exporta calendar.

Description

Africa continues to be a hive of potential and activity for trade and commodity finance, with West Africa in particular providing a vast range of commercial opportunities.

Exporta’s one-day ‘West Africa Trade & Commodity Finance Conference’ in London will bring together specialists involved in financing and structuring trade commodity finance deals in this exciting region. Delegates will hear experts discuss the latest trends and issues affecting West Africa’s trade and commodity finance sectors.

Economic, legal and trade outlooks will be discussed, including focus on key areas such as oil and gas, agribusiness (leading commodities such as cocoa, coffee and sugar), investment in key infrastructure and political risk. There will also be a special discussion panel focused on recent developments within the region’s banking sector and in particular on the ongoing process of reform in Nigeria.

The only event focusing on the lucrative commodities market in the exciting West African region, it will bring together the leading financing specialists for knowledge sharing and unrivalled networking opportunities.

Topical issues which will be discussed:

• Promoting and sustaining economic development through trade
• The impact of falling oil prices on the import-export balance
• Risk mitigation strategies: identifying and evaluating trends in the region
• Commodity pricing challenges in the face of rising inflation
• Pre-export financing structures: achieving sustainability and traceability in the supply chain
• Stablity within the banking sector - what does the future hold?
• Corporate perspectives on the West African export market
• Legal structures: increases in the adoption of OHADA law
• Maximising export potential through investment in key infrastructure

Who should attend?

• Financiers
• Corporates
• Consultants
• Insurers
• Lawyers
• Government Departments
• Multilaterals
• Senior management who need to know the inside angle on West Africa trade and commodity Finance

Event Photos

Brochure

Programme

08.30 Registration

09.10 Chairman’s welcome
Jean-Louis Ekra, President, Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank)

09.30 Political risk: an overview for West Africa
Rupert Cutler, Associate Director, Special Risks, Miller Insurance
Bernard de Haldevang, Financial & Political Risk, Aspen Insurance

• Highlighting the region’s economic growth and future prospects
• Identifying and evaluating political trends in the region to facilitate risk mitigation strategies
• Considering the impact of government reforms, focus on the changes in Nigeria since the 2007 elections
• Facing the stability challenges posed within the Niger Delta region for different stakeholders

10.15 Panel discussion: challenges for the oil industry in the new economy
Moderator: Jean Talbot, Head of Commodity Structured Debt, Europe, Middle East and Africa, BNP Paribas CIB
Akin Akinfemiwa, Director & Head Trader, Fineshade Energy
Keith Gubbin, Director, Shorline Capital Africa
Chris Ferguson, Senior Associate, The Risk Advisory Group 

• The impact of fluctuating oil prices on the import-export balance
• Redressing the region’s dependence on oil
• Reforms, deregulation and investment incentives
• Is there and enduring link between political Instability and oil prices?

11.15 Networking break

11.45 Panel discussion: commodity finance
Moderator: Ian Henderson, Director, Texel Capital
Ian Stern, Director, Africa, Global Structured Commodity Finance, Calyon Crédit Agricole CIB
Andrew Barr-Sim, Managing Director, Drum Resources
Edem Amegashie-Duvon, Manager, Ghana Cocoa Marketing Company UK

• Pricing challenges in the face of rising inflation
• Sustainability and traceability in the supply chain
• Pre-export trade financing facilities and funds
• The role of multilaterals in assisting trade programmes
• Comparing markets throughout the region
• Adding value to products in-country through local processing

12.30 Stability within the banking sector: what does the future hold?
Moderator BO Oramah, Executive Vice-President, Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank)
Jason E Barrass, Managing Director, Trade Finance, JP Morgan
Tony Uzoebo, Business Development Director, Zenith Bank
Omaru Sisay, Deputy Head of Africa Forecasting, Exclusive Analysis

• Responding to the decline in oil prices and the global economic downturn
• Lowering exposure to margin lending, improving compliance and providing risk management safeguards
• Considering the introduction of higher minimum capital requirements for banks
• Defending local currency and capital markets in the region
• Attracting and re-engaging with foreign investors

13.15 Lunch reception hosted by Nationwide Equipment

14.15 Corporate perspectives within the West African market
John Adet Esiegbuya, Executive Director, Finance, Lone Star Group

• Focusing on problems faced when exporting into West Africa
• Providing foreign direct investment into the supply chain
• Corporate programmes to encourage the growth of local business

14.45 Panel discussion: legal structures and regulations
Moderator: Charles Morrison, Partner, DLA Piper
Nabela Benaissa, lawyer, DLA Piper, Belgium
Tunde Oyewole, Partner, Olajide, Oyewole & Co, Nigeria
Fui Tsikata, Partner, Reindorf Chambers (a DLA Piper Group firm), Ghana

• What is Ohada? What are the aims? Are these being achieved?
• What is the relationship between Ohada and local law? How closely has practice matched theory at a jurisdictional level?
• How effective is security under Ohada? What is available? What are the issues? How does this compare to security available in non-Ohada West African jurisdictions?
• Is security more easily enforced under Ohada than in non-Ohada West Africa jurisdictions? What are the differences?
• What does the future hold for Ohada? Can Ohada work for Anglophone Africa? Should Anglophone Africa be seeking to adopt Ohada? What are the alternatives?

15.45 Networking break

16.15 Infrastructural development and investment
Stephan Diefenthal, Vice-President, New Business Africa, Deutsche Investitions-und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG)
Henry Morris, Head of Structured and Project Finance, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC)

• Maximising export potential through investment in key infrastructure
• Considering the availability of project finance for borrowers in the region
• Assessing the investment opportunities and reviewing regulatory issues
• Case studies of key infrastructure projects

17.15 Chairman’s closing summary and remarks

17.30 Drinks reception hosted by FBN Bank (UK) Ltd

Venue

Accommodation

Delegates are responsible for the arrangement of their own travel and accommodation. Details on how to book accommodation will be sent to each delegate when they register to attend the conference.

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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