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Date/Time
Date(s) - 01/06/2017
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Location
Africa Centre

Categories


Africa & Diaspora Forum

 

Africa & Diaspora Forum

Africa Centre, Arch 29, Union Yard Arches, London, Friday 24th June 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