For the first time, Charlotte is host to a major conference on doing business in Africa. Doing Business in Fast-Growing Africa: A Focus on Regional Markets and Economic Hubs is being held in Charlotte, North Carolina on April 27, 2012 in conjunction with Charlotte Africa Business Week 2012. It is being held at the UNCC Center City Campus in downtown Charlotte.
Charlotte’s competitive strengths in Banking, Finance, and Investment, Energy, Healthcare, Education, Technology, as well as the State of North Carolina’s additional strengths in these areas and agriculture, match many of the needs of the fast growing African continent with a population over 1 billion and annual GDP of over $1 trillion. In several African countries, the middle class is growing faster than and has greater purchasing power than the middle class in China or India. Also, seven of the fastest growing economies (Ethiopia, Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria, Congo) in the world for the next five years are in Africa, according to The Economist. The Economist expects the Africa region to overtake the Asia region in growth within five years.
Doing Business in Fast-Growing Africa will bring influential African leaders to share what the regions of the African continent can provide in terms of business, investment, and trade opportunities. Learn about gaps in the African markets that make great opportunities for American firms. The event will combine keynote speakers, panels, networking, and exhibits.
Planned Conference Schedule
| 9:00 am – 10:30 am | The New Africa (welcome, keynote speaker, and opening session speakers) |
| 10:30 am – 10:45 am | Break |
| 10:45 am – 11:15 am | Special Focus: Business and Opportunities in DR Congo |
| 11:15 am – 11:45 am | Special Focus: Business and Opportunities in Nigeria (proposed) |
| 11:45 am – 12:15 pm | Special Focus: Business and Opportunities in Ethiopia |
| 12:15 pm – 1:15 pm | Lunch |
| 1:15 pm – 2:15 pm | Focus on Fast-Growing East Africa (Panel) |
| 2:15 pm – 2:30 pm | Break |
| 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm | Focus on Fast-Growing West & Central Africa (Panel) |
| 3:30 pm – 3:45 pm | Break |
| 3:45 pm – 4:45 pm | Focus on Fast-Growing Southern Africa (Panel) |
| 4:45 pm – 5:00 pm | Closing |
| 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Networking and Open Dialogue |
Conference Package Includes
- Delegate ticket for both conference and box lunch
- BizconnectAfrika Resource Kit
- Daniel Anagho, President of African Investment Corporation, speaking on opportunities and nuances of doing business in Cameroon & Central Africa, as well as his role with OPIC
- Chief Tunde Adetunji, Founder of Africa Heritage Foundation, serving as an opening session speaker on the topic, “Why Africa Matters to the Global Economy”
- General Roger Blunt, CEO of Essex Construction and a board member of Corporate Council on Africa, serving as an opening session speaker on the topic, “Why Africa Matters to American Business”
- William Carter, Africa Diamond Leader at Ashoka, speaking on social entrepreneurship in East Africa and how to leverage these networks to do business on the continent
- Lauri Elliott, CEO of Conceptualee, Inc. and Director of Afribiz, serving as Mistress of Ceremonies and discussing ICT across sectors in East Africa
- Albert Essien, Deputy CEO of Ecobank, serving as keynote speaker and discussing banking, finance, and investment in West Africa
- Claude Ibalanky, CEO of Bantu Investments, speaking on developing retail products for informal consumer markets in Southern Africa
- Sipho Mseleku, Chairman of Global Business Roundtable and President of the Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, discussing business landscape and opportunities in Southern Africa and serving as luncheon keynote speaker
- Kabala Muselemu, Deputy Manager of Ministry of Mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo, leading a special focus group on business opportunities in the DRC
- Zemedeneh Negatu, Managing Partner at Ernst & Young Ethiopia and Head of Transaction Advisory Services of Eastern Africa, leading a special focus session on doing business in Ethiopia
- Troy Pelshak, CEO of Amana Global Services and former NFL player, speaking on preparing for dynamics of doing business in West Africa
- Richard Schroeder, CEO of First Step Economic Opportunity Zone, speaking on using economic zones in West Africa to do business in Africa
- Hartmut Sieper, CEO of Trans Africa Invest, speaking on the key capital markets in East Africa
- Rob Smith, Founder and Director of Earthwise Ventures, speaking on infrastructure in East Africa
- Carol Tappenden, COO of Nexii, speaking on innovative impact and social enterprise investment options in Southern Africa
- Kendal Tyre, Partner at the law firm of Nixon Peabody LLP and Chair/Founder of Lex Noir, speaking on franchising in Southern Africa
