Africa Trade & Investment 2007

Event Review

Two days of punctual presentations and interactive questioning was enjoyed by all 130 delegates attending Exporta's Africa Trade & Investment conference held on February 01-02, 2007.

The packed room welcomed senior speakers such as James Lambright, Chairman and President of Export-Import Bank of the United States and the Deputy Minister of Finance & Economic Planning, Government of Ghana.  A total of 37 speakers shared their experience and knowledge of Africa Trade, outlining opportunities and risks.  With several roundtable discussions, all delegates were offered the chance to fully participate.

At the end of day one, Exporta hosted an evening at the local Groot Constantia wine estate.  Everyone enjoyed canapes and wine on the lawns, before wine-tasting and cellar tours commenced.  During the formal dinner in the fairylit courtyard, guests were further entertained by motivational speaker, Heinrich Wagner, who represented Standard Chartered Bank's charity, Seeing is Believing.  A wonderful total of USD5,500 was raised by evening guests for the Seeing is Believing campaign and will be added to the total of donations received via delegate sales too.

Selection of delegate comments:
The conference provided a platform for a broad and robust discussion for participants which helped to clarify and deal with both challenges and solutions on African Trade. It also was a generous networking arena for industry participants from all fronts.
Disebo Moephuli, Transnet

Very good networking opportunity. Exporta very helpful and professional.
M. Fischer, DEG

Its one of the best conferences I have ever taken. All the speakers were fully prepared for themeeting and influential in their area.
Su Lei, China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation

A short and crisp event providing wonderful opportunity for networking.
Arun Gupta, Neotel (Pty) Ltd

Description

The Africa Trade & Investment 2007 Sub-Saharan Risks & Rewards event, sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank, JLT Risk Solutions, Ince & Co and Nationwide Equipment is taking place on February 1 and 2, 2007.

The conference brochure is finalised with a fantastic line-up of speakers including Minister of Finance and Economic Planning for Ghana, First Africa SA, IFC, Ericsson Credit, 3 Tel Holdings, Telkom SA, Standard & Poor's, Finnvera, Coface, Globeleq and many more.

Event Photos

Brochure

Programme

Day One

Thursday, February 1, 2007

09.15 Welcome address
Mike Hart, Chief Executive Officer, Africa, Standard Chartered Bank

09.30 The investment climate in Africa: opportunities and challenges
Alassane Ba, Direct Lending Division Manager, African Development Bank

09.50 Loans and guarantees - US Ex-Im bank support for African Trade
James Lambright, Chairman and President, Export-Import Bank of the United States

Economic & Political Context

10.30 Networking break

11.00 Perceptions of African risk and the ratings outlook
Konrad Reuss, Deputy Global Head of Sovereign & International Public Finance Ratings, Standard & Poor's
• Improving macro-economic outlook; strong economic growth across Africa, disinflation, improving governance and better economic management
• HIPC and MDRI debt relief, high commodity prices and strong demand for African raw materials are creating a unique window of opportunity
• Growing demand of sovereign ratings in Africa against the background of increasing capital flows in domestic African capital markets

11.40 Violent and political risks in Africa
Nathalie Wlodarczyk, Head of Africa Division, Exclusive Analysis
• Corruption and regime stability in post- colonial political systems
• Chinese investment and influence in Africa
• Opportunities for investment and risk management
• Risk outlook for Africa and emerging sector trends

Risks & Solutions

13.30 The perils and pitfalls of political and trade credit risk insurance
Tony George, Partner, Ince & Co
• The drafting stage
• The placing exercise
• Policy maintenance
• Where claims most frequently go wrong
• How problems can best be avoided

14.10 Country risk management strategy: the value of political risk
Danny Oades, Partner, Credit & Political Risks, JLT Risk Solutions
• Resource nationalism and transformation of the political risk environment
• New sources of risk: the role of community groups, NGOs and parastatal entities
• Victim or participant? A two-way relationship with country risk?
• Selling risk or buying insurance? Markets and marketing

14.50 Privatisations, mergers and acquisitions in Africa: managing the risks
Kofi Adjepong-Boateng, Chief Executive Officer, First Africa SA (Pty) Ltd
• Background to African M&A and privatisations
• Observations about current market activity
• Future outlook

16.00 Export credit agency solutions: Corporate roundtable
Charles Carlson, Global Head of SEF, Standard Chartered Bank
Susanne With, Project and Business Development Manager, The Swedish Export Credits Guarantee Board (EKN)
Raija Rissanen, Vice-President, Foreign Risks and Risk Policy, Finnvera plc
Yoshiharu Sato, Chief Representative, London Office, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)
Eun-Ihl Chung, Senior Executive Director, Korea Export Insurance Corporation (KEIC)
Marc Murcia, Head of Medium Term Department, Coface
• How can ECAs help exporters to and from Africa?
• How are the risks mitigated?
• Where are premiums heading for these risks?
• What's strictly off-limits at present?
• Future outlook

16.30 Closing comments

16.30 Wine tasting & dinner at Groot Constantia wine estate

Day Two

Friday, February 2, 2007

Africa's Place in World Trade

09.00 Growing impact of south-south trade
Scott Stevenson, Head of Trade Operations, Global Trade Finance Programme, International Finance Corporation (IFC)
• Over the past decade, significant shifts have occured in global trade patterns
• South-south trade's greater importance for developing economies
• Developing countries increasing their share of global trade
• New patterns of south-south trade quickly developing: notably China-Africa, India-Africa and South America-Africa

09.30 Asian-African engagement: turnaround time?
Razia Khan, Regional Head of Research, Africa, Standard Chartered Bank
• Structural reform and strong demand for commodities drive Africa"s growth
• Increasing Asian engagement has helped to correct the undervaluation of African assets
• Diversification from a narrow economic base is still key

10.10 China and Africa trade
Liang Zhidong, Executive, Vice-President, Sinosure (China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation)
Chen Haitao, Head of Financing, Sub-Saharan Africa, Huawei Technologies
Zhang Shaoyang, Norinco International
Wang Jianguo, ZTE Corporation
Chen Zhanquin, Director, China Metallurgical Group
Yang Hengfan, CITIC International Corporation Co Ltd
• Background
• Relationships nutured
• Why Africa?
• The future

11.10 Networking break

Financing Solutions

11.40 Financng infrastructure projects in Africa
Ade Adeola, Regional Head of Sales & Business Development, Africa, Standard Chartered Bank
Abhay Ketkar, Director, Global Power and Utilities, Standard Chartered Bank
• Opportunity and challenges
• Financiers' perspective: the art of the possible

12.20 Roundtable discussion: raising finance and investment
Paul Champagne, Global Head, Structured Trade Finance,  Standard Chartered Bank
Jean Louis Ekra, President, Afreximbank
Peter Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Africa Trade Insurance Agency (ATI)
Mamadou Barry, Senior Underwriter, MIGA/Worldbank
Andre Soumah, Executive Chairman, Audit Control & Expertise (ACE)
Winfried Nau, First Vice-President, Head of Department, New Business, Africa, Deutsche Investitions - und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (DEG)

13.00 Lunch

14.30 Africa's economic record and potential
Hon Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Government of Ghana

Supporting African Infrastructure Projects & Industries

15.00 The voice of the people: corporate roundtable
Jonathan Morris, Managing Director, Regional Head, Client Relationships, Africa, Standard Chartered Bank
Sven Ake Hellgren, President, Ericsson Credit AB
Gerald Zadikoff, PE Chief Executive Officer, 3 tel Holdings Ltd
Charles Darku, Director for Power Sales, Volta River Authority, Ghana
Arun Gupta, Chief Financial Officer, Neotel
• African corporates discuss experiences
• Obstacles to growth and development
• Solutions suggested
• Africa's growing blue chip community
• The way ahead

15.40 Closing comments, followed by networking break
Macer Gifford, Regional Head, Global Markets, Africa, Standard Chartered Bank

16.00 Close of conference

Venue

Accommodation

Delegates are responsible for the arrangement and payment of their own travel and accommodation.  A preferential rate has been negotiated for you at The Cape Grace Hotel.  Upon registration a booking code will be provided so you may take advantage of a special discount available at The Cape Grace Hotel.
Please reserve your room directly with the hotel.

The Cape Grace Hotel
West Quay
V&A Waterfront
Cape Town, 8002
South Africa
Tel: +27 21 410 7000
Fax: +27 21 418 0495
reservations@capegrace.com
www.capegrace.com

Alternative Accommodation

Radisson SAS Hotel Waterfront - 5 Star
Tel:  +27 21 441 3000
Fax: +27 21 441 3520
Email: capetown.info@radissonsas.co.za

The Commodore Hotel - 5 Star
Tel:  +27 21 701 1202
Fax: +27 21 701 0843
Email: commodore@accommodationsouthafrica.co.za

Victoria & Alfred Hotel - 4 Star
Tel:  +27 21 419 6677
Fax: +27 21 416 89 55
Email: res@vahotel.co.za

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