H.E. Festus Mogae confirms his participation at the 3rd COMESA Investment Forum
H.E. Festus Mogae, Former President of Botswana, Hassan Heikal, CEO of EFG Hermes and Samih Sawiris, CEO of Orascom confirm their participation at the 3rd COMESA Investment Forum
Cairo, Monday, 06th April: H.E. Festus Mogae, Former President of Botswana will be chairing the opening plenary at the forthcoming 3rd COMESA Investment Forum. He will be joining a long list of senior government officials and prominent business leaders from across Africa. Two of Egypt's most successful businessmen Hassan Heikal and Samih Sawiris will be speaking at the Forum which aims to highlight the investment opportunities within COMESA in particular and Africa as a whole.
Other noteworthy speakers include Patrick Mwehieire, CEO of East Africa, Renaissance Capital, Giulia Di Tommaso, Director for External Affairs, Unilever, Hassan Heikal, CEO of EFG Hermes, Joe Mucheru, head of Google's Africa operations and Phuti Malabie, MD of Shanduka Energy as well as the controversial economist and author, Dambisa Moyo, who will be making a keynote address.
Attendance of senior representatives from top global companies such as Carrefour, Ecobank , Ernst & Young, SEACOM, Citadel Capital, Petronas, Addax and Oryx and HP, as well as major institutions like the African Development Bank, OPIC, SADC, the China-Africa Business Council, the World Energy Council, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and the African Export-Import Bank is assured.
Besides the stellar line-up of speakers , the COMESA Investment Forum also offers delegates the unique opportunity to conduct one-on-one meetings with ministers from the COMESA member states, including amongst others H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Minister of Investment Egypt, Hon. Minister Prof. Welshman Ncube, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Zimbabwe, Hon. Amos Kimunya, Minister of Trade, Kenya, and Hon. Minister Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Minister of Trade and Industry, Rwanda.
The Forum is being spearheaded by COMESA RIA (Regional Investment Agency), the investment arm of COMESA, whose role it is to promote best practice and to act as a facilitator for Member States to create an enabling business environment. Commenting on this event, the Secretary General of COMESA, Sindiso Ngwenya said, “This is a Forum not only for COMESA Member States but for anyone with an interest in Africa – the last frontier and a region with vast, unexploited opportunities and a proven track record in terms of FDI returns. There is no doubt that the Forum is an important step in facilitating capital flows to the COMESA region, creating a win-win situation for all stakeholders.”
The Forum is hosted by the Ministry of Investment of Egypt and its Investment Promotion Agency (IPA), the General Authority for Investment (GAFI). GAFI Chairman Mr. Osama Saleh commented, “We are honoured to welcome such renowned global and institutional leaders, and facilitate the meeting of great minds on home soil. We are extremely privileged to be able to contribute to enhanced relations within the COMESA region, and the global economic community more widely, in this important way.”
The conference is being produced by IC Events, part of the IC Publications group, publishers of African Business magazine. Group Publisher Omar Ben Yedder observed, “The high calibre of speakers and delegates makes for an exciting programme. The programme has been carefully crafted to actively engage the private and the public sector and we hope the Forum will be an important platform to drive investment into the region, both within Africa and from international investors.”
The COMESA Investment Forum will address developments in key sectors such as infrastructure, agro-processing, financial services, tourism and also renewable energy. Delegates will gain a comprehensive understanding of the myriad investment opportunities on offer, as well as an in-depth understanding of the regulatory and legal frameworks of the 19 COMESA member states.
The Forum takes place in Sharm el Sheikh, April at the International Congress Centre Maritim, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on the 12th and 13th April.