2nd Africa Regional Meeting

Working together for investment policies and actions in Africa
25-26 October 2001, La Royal Palm Beach Hotel, Accra, Ghana

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Programme

Thursday 25 October

09.00-10.15
Opening session

Welcome by
• Ishmael Yamson, Chair, ICC Ghana

ICC priorities of importance for African countries
• Maria Livanos Cattaui, ICC Secretary General

Video address, introduced by Maria Livanos Cattaui
• Kofi Annan*, Secretary General of the UN

Keynote address, introduced by Ishmael Yamson
• H.E John Agyekum Kufuor*, President of Ghana

10.15-10.30
Break

10.30-12.00
Global trade and investment policy
What progress has been made on the WTO negotiations on agriculture and services? What are the real issues in support of a new round of multilateral trade negotiations? What initiatives are being taken on the national and regional level to improve global trade and investment policy? In which ways can African governments work with business to improve regulatory frameworks and enhance international competitiveness?

Chaired by
• Maria Livanos Cattaui, ICC Secretary General

Speakers
• Shafk Gabr, Chair, COMESA Business Council; Chair, Artoc Group for Investment and Development, Egypt
• H.E.P. Kwesi Nduom*, Minister of Economic Planning and Regional Cooperation, Ghana
• Ishmael Yamson, Chair, ICC Ghana; Executive Chairman, Unilever, Ghana
• Ahlaji Mohammed Bamanga Tukur*, President, African Business Round Table, South Africa

12.00-12.15
Break

12.15-13.30
Qualifying the perception of doing business in Africa
Africa is rated as the most risky environment in the world by commercial risk-rating agencies and therefore is perceived as being atypically risky. To what extent is this judgement accurate? How can African governments and international institutions between them reduce these perceived risks? What impact does the media have on investment decisions? How does doing business in Africa compare with other developing regions?

Chaired by
• The Rt. Hon. The Earl McNally, Vice-Chairman, Weber Shandwick Worldwide, UK

Speakers
• Sam Jonah*, Ashanti Goldfields Corporation, Ghana
• Paul Collier*,World Bank Group, USA
• Karl Sauvant, Chief, Investment Division, UNCTAD, Switzerland

13.30-15.00
Lunch

15.00- 16.30
Financing African business
Are Privatisations and Public-Private Partnership projects working in Africa, and are they facilitating private investment in local SMEs? What measures are needed to increase liquidity and fiduciary oversight in African financial markets? How can African corporates improve their chances of accessing development and international funding?

Chaired by
• Right Hon. The Earl Cairns C.B.E., Chairman, Commonwealth Business Council; Chairman, Commonwealth Development Council, London

Speakers
• Adebayo Alade-loba*, Director, Global Energy and Project Finance, Crédit Suisse, USA
• René Azokli*, Chairman, AFMIN, Benin
• Niles Helmboldt, Chairman, Modern Africa Growth and Investment Company, USA
• Robert Pouliot*, Director, RCP & Partners, Switzerland

16.30-16.45
Break

16.45-18.00
IT Convergence in the media industry- opportunities threats / electronic commerce / m-commerce/B2B/B2C
What affect has the shake out and convergence of the global information and telecoms industry had in Africa. Are businesses and governments in Africa well placed to leverage the Internet to compete on global markets? How are the infrastructural requirements in the telecoms industry being addressed? Can business and governments in Africa collaborate to address capacity deficits in skills, investment and policy?

Chaired by
• Maria Livanos Cattaui, ICC Secretary General, Paris

Speakers
• Reginald Mengi*, Executive Chairman, IPP Group, Tanzania
• Nii Quaynor, Executive Chairman, Network Computer Systems, Ghana
• George Twumasi, Vice Chairman, African Broadcast Network, UK
• Mavis Ampah Sintim-Misa*, Chief Executive, African Connection, South Africa

18.00-18.30
Key outcomes

• Maria Livanos Cattaui, ICC Secretary General
• Ishmael Yamson, Chair, ICC Ghana; Chairman Unilver, Ghana

20.00
Gala dinner

Friday 26 October

09.00-13.00
Arbitrat ion as a driver for investment and development
with contact break What is the relationship between commercial arbitration and increased international investment in Africa? How can the extensive law reforms currently in progress across Africa facilitate private sector development and economic growth? How can the African arbitration community add value to developing international commercial arbitration procedure and practice on the continent?

Chaired by
• Yves Derains, Avocat au Barreau de Paris; Former Secretary General of the International Court of Arbration, Paris

Speakers
• Hon. Nana Akufo-Addo, Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Ghana
• S.K.B. Asante, Member, ICC International Court of Arbitration, Ghana
• Charles Morrison*, Partner, Denton Wilde Sapte, UK
• Justice Effie Owuor, High Court Judge, Kenya
• Roland Amoussou Guenou, Advisor, International Development Institution, Italy
• Titus Edjua, Legal Consultant, African Development Bank, Cote d' Ivoire

FOOTNOTE
* Speakers to be confirmed