Africa & Diaspora Forum

Africa Centre, Arch 29, Union Yard Arches, London, Friday 21st July 2017

09.15 – 09.45

Registration, breakfast refreshments and networking

09.45 – 10.00

Opening Scene: African Cultural Heritage Experience

10.00 – 10.10

Opening Remarks: TBC

Session 1  Africa’s Diaspora Capital

10.10 – 10.35

Speakers (5 mins each):

• H.E. Roy Blackbeard (tbc): Understanding the contribution the diaspora makes  
• High Commissioner/Ambassador: A Diaspora Policy in Action
• Tom Ilube, entrepreneur & philanthropist (tbc)
• Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, social entrepreneur (tbc)

Last two speakers giving the diaspora perspective

10.35 – 11.10

Panel discussion chaired by High Commissioner/Ambassador:

• Deepening the relationship between African nations and their diaspora communities
• Cultural exchange
• The value of a think tank / forum

11.10 – 11.40

Questions

11.40 – 12.00

Tea & coffee break

Session 2  Building a diaspora entrepreneurial network

12.00 – 12.25

Speaker/panellists (5 mins each):

• Anne-Lise Fotso Talking about The Hub – the first workspace for African & diaspora creatives and entrepreneurs
• London based diaspora entrepreneur
• Kevin Korgba, co-Founder & MD of the Enterprise, Training & Knowledge Group and BCA Board member (tbc)
• Kady Doumbia Coulibaly, President of the Côte d’Ivoire Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain (tbc)

12.25 – 13.15

Panel & attendee discussion chaired by High Commissioner/Ambassador:

What are the needs of diaspora entrepreneurs:

• Space?
• Networking?
• Investment?
• Mentoring?
• Supplier relationships?
• Support from embassy or high commission?

13.15 – 14.15

Networking buffet lunch

Session 3  Will there ever be a better time to negotiate an African trade deal with the UK?

14.15 – 14.35

Speaker/panellists (5mins each):

• Christian Kusi-Yeboah, Economist, Bank of England (tbc) Painting a picture of existing arrangements and analysing the opportunities and benefits of a trade deal
• John Battersby, Director of South African Chamber of Commerce UK (tbc)
• Ambassador/High Commissioner
• Adam Afriyie, British MP & Prime Minister’s trade envoy to Ghana (tbc)

14.35 – 15.30

Panel & attendee discussion chaired by High Commissioner/Ambassador:

How to get our ducks in a row:

• Pan-African deal or regional?
• How to work towards unanimity?
• Autumn conference involving Brexit and trade ministries?
• Who should be on the negotiating team?

15.30 – 15.45

Tea & coffee break

Session 4  Increasing investment in Africa

16.00 – 16.20

Speakers (5mins each):

• Edward George, EcoBank (tbc) Current opportunities especially in disruptive technology
• Investor Who would like to invest but doesn’t
• Lanre Akinola, Editor, African Business magazine (tbc) The corporate view
• Peter Ryan, Micro Loan Foundatio (tbc) micro lending impact and success rate
• Paul Akwaboah, Evercore bank, non-executive Director of Invest in Africa (tbc)

16.20 – 17.00

Panel & attendee discussion chaired by High Commissioner/Ambassador:

How to increase investment in Africa:

• How to broaden major banks offer to investors to include Africa?
• Where the investment opportunities of the future in Africa going to come from?
• Risk vs reward – is Africa always going to be perceived as high risk / high yield?
• Diaspora investment – how best to harness and facilitate it?

Plennary

17.00 – 17.30

Round up of the day’s conclusions and actions with chairs of the sessions

Drinks reception

17.30 – 19.30

Drinks & nibbles in The Hub co-working space next door to the Forum