UK West and Central Africa Trade Investment Francophone 2022 London
EVENT SYNOPSIS
The inaugural UK-Francophone West and Central Africa Trade and Investment Forum is a major intergovernmental and private sector summit convened by DMA, DIT and UKEF.
Plenary sessions, vertical and geographic roundtables, deal rooms and a series of bilateral meetings between government and industry will take place over two packed days in central London.
The many French-speaking West and Central African countries have been historically underrepresented by British industry and underserved by diplomatic cover. This, however, has been a trend in reverse for several years, culminating in June’s ascension to the Commonwealth of Gabon and Togo.
In total, eight countries including the West Africa power houses of Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire are joined by Central Africa’s Cameroon and the extraordinarily diverse economies of Benin, Niger and mineral-rich Guinea.
UK Export Finance has a significant appetite for French-speaking West and Central Africa – an appetite which has seen consistent year on year increases, and recent successes in these non-traditional markets include a wide-ranging, award-winning and record financing facility for primary healthcare in Cote d’Ivoire and an innovative infrastructure financing facility in Cameroon.
In addition to governmental presence, 300-500 well-capitalised, multi-disciplinary British companies with an interest in West and Central Africa and expertise in banking, finance, infrastructure development, healthcare, education, clean energy, clean agri-tech, legal services, pharmaceuticals, de-carbonisation, ICT, creative sectors and FMCG are going to be present to promote their own skills, expertise and promote their historical investment, and present activity on the continent.
The eight countries represented invite one to one meetings with their visiting governments and UK Export Finance will offer both business and governments bespoke financing and insurance assistance for these fascinating emerging markets.
The event is free-to-attend but by invitation only and central London venue details will be provided closer to the Forum date.
DRAFT PROGRAMME
DAY ONE
08:00 – 09:00: Registration & Refreshments
09:00 – 09:15: Welcome Address & Opening Comments
- Office of the Secretary of State, Department for International Trade (DIT)
- Samir Abhyankar, Managing Director and Head of Private Equity, British International Investment (BII)
09:15 – 09:30: Keynote Addresses
- Tim Reid, Head of Business Group, UK Export Finance (UKEF)
09:30 – 10.30: The Unique Francophone Offer, Regional Economic Outlook and Investment Opportunities
Chair: Laurence Robertson MP, Chairman, Westminster Africa Business Group (WABG)
- Office of the Minister for Africa, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
- Dr Mabouba Diagne, Vice President, ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID)
- West African Development Bank (BOAD)
- Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG)
- Steve Gray OBE, Regional Head, West Africa, UK Export Finance
Q&A Session
10:30 – 11:00: Refreshments Break
11:00 – 11:50: Insight into Benin and Cameroon and the UK Public and Private Offer
Benin | Cameroon |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
11:55 – 12:45: Insight into Côte d’Ivoire and Gabon and the UK Public and Private Offer
Côte d’Ivoire | Gabon |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
12:45 – 13:40: Networking Lunch/Food Security and Job Creation Networking Lunch
13:40 – 14:30: Insight into Guinea and Niger and the UK Public and Private Offer
Guinea | Niger |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
14:35 – 15:25: Insight into Senegal and Togo and the UK Public and Private Offer
Senegal | Togo |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
15:25 – 15.45: Tea and Coffee Break
15:45 – 15:55: DIT’s Commitment to Francophone Africa
- John Humphrey, Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner to Africa, Department for International Trade
16:00 – 16:40: UK Expertise – Spotlights i.
Spotlight on Infrastructure | Spotlight on Agriculture |
|
|
16:45 – 17:25: UK Expertise – Spotlights ii.
Spotlight on Energy | Spotlight on Blue Economy/Water |
|
|
17:30 – 18.10: UK Expertise – Spotlights iii.
Spotlight on Financial Services | Spotlight on Health and Education |
|
|
REGISTRATION & SPONSORSHIP
To register for this event, please click through the link and follow the instructions https://www.delegateselect.com/event/uk-francophone/(link is external
18:15: Closing Ceremony and Gala Reception
DAY TWO
One-on-one meetings with the delegation taking place at individual Embassies/High Commissions/missions