4th Annual Sub-Saharan Africa Trade & Export Finance Forum

Event Review

The 4th Annual Sub-Saharan Africa Trade & Export Finance Forum took place in Nairobi on the 19th November. The conference was well attended with international and local industry representatives.  After discussing various issues on sub-saharan trade finance , commodities, biofuels, insurance and legal issues; delegates attended a dinner at The Muthaiga Country Club.

Description

The 4th Annual Sub-Saharan Trade & Export Finance Forum 2008 being held in Nairobi, Kenya, will examine investment opportunities and economic and trade trends in Sub- Saharan Africa with a focus on agribusiness, infrastructure, power and energy, mining and telecoms.

Economic growth in the region in recent years reflects a strong demand for commodities, increased capital flows and debt relief – against a background of continued progression in stabilising economies and implementing reforms that help sustain rising investment and productivity.

Join us for this unrivalled one-day event to hear and participate in informed case studies, representative panel discussions and specialist presentations and to exchange views and network with delegates and speakers. Maximum networking opportunities will be provided, including an evening reception.

Event Photos

Brochure

Programme

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 – Day One

08.30                     
Registration and refreshments

09.20                     
Introduction from the conference chairman

09.30                     
Structured trade
Sekete Mokgehle, Head, Global Structured Trade & Commodity Finance, Nedbank

• Defining structured trade finance in local markets
• Standing out in the crowd: competition between domestic, international, exim banks
• Assessment of tenors and pricing
• The corporate perception of current bank offering

10.00                     
Commodity finance overview: intermediating  product flows throughout Africa and beyond
John Mark Wandalo, Divisional Director, Corporate, Kenya Commercial Bank

• Getting comfortable with the commodity and the structure
• Obtaining support from local banks
• The role of international and local traders: competition and collaboration                  

10.30
Networking Break

11.30                                  
Trade finance and the credit crunch panel
Moderator: Charles Morrison, Partner, DLA Piper
Sekete Mokgehle, Head, Global Structured Trade & Commodity Finance, Nedbank
Craig Polkinghorne, Global Head Structured Trade and Commodity Finance, Standard Bank

• The credit crunch and alternative avenues of financing
• Risk mitigation in the current scenario
• Local vs foreign banks – which are better partners in a down turn
• Banks – are they prepared
• How long will the recession/downturn be, which industries and countries will get affected more
• Pricing of trade finance – how much more should be paid and why (it is short term self liquidating risk

12.10                    
Biofuels, Oil & Gas
Farid Mohamed, Director, Pipal

• What governments can do to ensure oil and gas production serve national development
• Managing budgets in an environment of volatile oil prices
• New areas for oil and gas development
• Trends in African oil trade finance
• The ‘food vs fuel’ debate

12.40                     
Lunch

14.00                     
Sub-Saharan trade finance: legal issues and structuring solutions
James Willcock, Solicitor, DLA Piper

• Growth, stability and law           
• Basell II: legal impact
• Lenders’ concerns   Responses and solutions: a jurisdictional tour
• Outlook
   

14.30                     
Trade finance solutions
Ann-Marie Woolley, Director, Head of Trade Finance & Services, Standard Bank Africa

• Matching bespoke terms of trade
• Recent changes to meet the current banking environment
• Challenges faced by African suppliers

15.00                     
IFC Global Trade Finance Program: promoting a network of bank partnerships
Sabrina Borlini, Trade Finance Specialist, IFC Global Trade Finance Program

• Risk mitigation to increase cross border trade with Africa
• Facilitating new trade corridors and promoting partnerships
• Increasing trade finance knowledge in Africa

15.30                     
Networking break

16.00                     
Warehousing and collateral securities
Nigel Folker, Commercial Manager, Drum

• The effectiveness of warehouse receipt systems in Africa
• How can warehouse receipts improve access to finance?
• Lowering access barriers using warehouse receipts
• Implementation challenges and approach

16.30                     
Insurance
Michael Creighton, Head of Sace Spa South Africa
Stewart Kinlock, Chief Underwriting Officer, Africa Trade Insurance Agency

• Country risk profile of Sub-Saharan Africa
• Responsible lending and environmental issues
• Case study of transactions in the region                          

17.10                     
Innovative sharia-compliant tools for trade finance
Nathif J. Adam, Chief Executive Officer, First Community Bank Limited

17.30                     
Close of conference

18.00                     
Networking dinner at Muthiaga Country Club
(Buses depart from the Intercontinental Hotel at 18.00)

Venue

Accommodation

Delegates are responsible for the arrangement and payment of their own travel and accommodation.  A preferential rate has been negoitated for you at The Intercontinental Hotel Nairobi for a limited period of time.  Upon registration a booking form will be provided so you may take advantage of a special discount available at The Intercontinental Hotel.

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