23 rd 24 th March 2011 Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates ABOUT The 4 th COMESA Investment Forum is spearheaded by COMESA RIA in partnership with Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum - UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The Forum will bring together over 1000 leading international companies and business representatives with policy makers to discuss new investment and business opportunities within Eastern and Southern Africa where COMESA s 19 vibrant Member States are located. This year s event is unique and differs from previous forums because of its collaboration with Dubai the leading capital of business in the Middle East. Dubai has established itself as the city of possibility, where ambition, creativity, quality and exceptional leadership have collectively driven the unimaginable growth of this city over a short span of history. Thus, Dubai inherently offers a role model in terms of how to turn COMESA s opportunities into a profitable business venture and the region into a thriving international business hub. Dubai aims at reaching out to new emerging markets in the African continent and COMESA, as the largest economic block of the continent, attracts thousands of investors from all over the world thus presenting immense scope for bilateral investment and trade. COMESA Regional Investment Agency, the investment promotion arm of COMESA, aims at driving FDI into Africa s largest economic block comprising a total of nineteen countries, with a population of over 430 million, and a combined GDP of over USD 447 Billion. Having successfully launched its Custom Union in 2009, COMESA continues on the road of regional integration by supporting the continuous creation of better investment conditions, making it an increasingly internationally competitive economic community. COMESA s member states include: Burundi, Comoros, D.R. Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Why attend: Following the recent financial crisis and shifts in global economic power, COMESA in particular and Africa as a whole finds itself in a stronger position and as an attractive destination for investment, especially as the economies keep growing and diversifying. The 4 th COMESA Investment Forum aims at highlighting opportunities in the region and promoting collaboration between COMESA s Member States, Africa, the Middle East and the world at large. This 2 day high-level forum aims to generate a large array of new business opportunities. Representatives from the COMESA region will showcase their success stories and unveil new projects. Participants will: better understand the investment opportunities and implications associated with doing business in the region involving all key stakeholders allowing them to make informed decisions about investment and reform. identify the frameworks which are driving growth and contributing to a favorable business environment in the COMESA region. learn about Dubai s strategic role as an international hub for business in and out of COMESA and Africa at large. meet those that are driving the agenda of economic growth at an event which offers an unparalleled platform to get to know and do business with the emerging giants of the future. Who should attend International Business Leaders with current and potential investment in Africa Consultants/Analysts/ Economists/ Legal Experts/Academics/ Risk Professionals Policy Makers, Political Leaders, Ministers, senior government officials from Africa/UAE International organizations and multilateral agencies Investment consultants and economic advisors Senior Representatives from Investment Promotion Agencies Leading international and local Media
The previous COMESA Investment Forum: The 2010 forum took place in April in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt and attracted over 800 business leaders and policy makers from 65 countries. It was widely publicised in the leading international and local media. Last year s speakers included: HE Sindiso Ngwenya, Secretary General, COMESA HE Dr Mahmoud Mohieldin Minister of Investment, Egypt Hon Minister Professor Welshman Ncube, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Zimbabwe, and Chairman of COMESA Council of Ministers HE Festus Mogae, Former President of Botswana HE Fayza Mohamed Aboul Naga, Minister of International Cooperation, Egypt HE Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State, United Arab Emirates HE Hisham Al Shirawi,Vice-Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry Samih Sawiris, Chairman and CEO, Orascom HE Festus G. Mogae, Former President of Botswana Nigel Chanakira, Founder and CEO, Kingdom Financial Holdings Limited Nkosana Moyo, Vice President, African Development Bank Zhijie Zheng, First Vice President, China Development Bank Jean-Louis Ekra, President, African Export-Import Bank Patrick Mweheire, Head of Investment Banking Africa and CEO East Africa, Renaissance Capital David Van Niekerk, CEO, Blue Financial Services Dambisa Moyo, Economist and Author of Dead Aid About the Organisers The 4 th COMESA Investment Forum is spearheaded by the COMESA Regional Investment Agency in partnership with Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum - UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai COMESA The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) was established in 1994 to replace the Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern Africa (PTA). Its vision is to drive the attainment of a fully integrated and competitive regional economic community, through a strategy based on cooperation in trade, investment promotion, and development. COMESA is the largest African economic block comprising a total of nineteen countries, a population of over 430 million, and a combined GDP of over USD 447 Billion. Having successfully launched its Custom Union in 2009, COMESA continues on the road of regional integration by supporting the continuous creation of better investment conditions, making it an increasingly internationally competitive economic community.
COMESA Regional Investment Agency COMESA Regional Investment Agency (COMESA RIA), one of the eight COMESA institutions, constitutes its investment promotion arm. It was established in 2006 with the objective of promoting the COMESA region as a viable, attractive, and favorable investment destination for regional and international investors. Its mission is to transform COMESA into an internationally competitive investment area, which allows free movement of capital, labour, goods, and services across borders of COMESA Member-States, and thereby facilitate sustainable growth of private domestic and foreign investment. COMESA RIA s key role is to be the strategic driver for capacity-building among COMESA Member-States Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), promoting best practices and facilitating each Member-State to generate a positive business environment for potential investors, thus creating a strong region within Africa for investment. In order to fulfill this role, COMESA RIA works closely with the 19 national Investment Promotion Agencies to improve national investment climates, as well as to identify their needs within their organizations, and provide the appropriate training and development support. Since its launch, COMESA RIA headed by Mrs. Heba Salama has been engaged in building the capacities of the various IPAs, organizing international investment conferences as well as investment road shows, and in acting as an information hub for investors seeking information about the region. In doing so, COMESA RIA is active in promoting the COMESA region as a Common Investment Area, and in building a positive image of the region to a worldwide audience. Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry Since its founding in 1965, Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry has been a pioneer in representing, supporting and protecting the interests of the business community in Dubai. Dubai Chamber plays a significant role in supporting business activities, enhancing competitiveness, creating a favorable business environment, promoting Dubai as an international business hub, and voicing and influencing policies of interests to its members and to local, regional and international authorities. To keep pace with Dubai s continued economic growth and rapidly developing business environment, the Chamber has been keeping the channels of communications open with the various business groups and councils in its efforts to strengthen the cooperation between the private and public sectors. Serving it s over 100,000 members; the Chamber has set up 25 business groups and 39 business councils. As a business facilitator, the Chamber provides several value-added services such as issuing certificates of origin, business researches and advocacy, mediation and arbitration, receiving trade missions and organizing entrepreneurial trainings and seminars. The Chamber s initiatives include credit rating, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Award, Centre for Responsible Business (CRB), Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), University of Dubai, and Dubai Business Women s Council. In a nod to changing technologies, many of these services are increasingly available online on Dubai Chamber website www.dubaichamber.com which turns to be an indispensible source of information for Dubai s business community.
IC Events The Agenda is developed by IC Events the leading events organizers for Africa and the Middle East in cooperation with COMESA RIA and Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry. For more information visit www.ic-events.net Contact us: For queries please contact IC EVENTS Erika Atzori Researcher register@ic-events.net Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7841 3238. www.ic-events.net DUBAI CHAMBER Catherine Omondi comesa2011@dubaichamber.com Tel: (+971) 4 228 0000 COMESA RIA Anne-Marie Iskandar Marketing Officer aiskandar@comesaria.org Tel: (+202) 2405 5428 Mohamed Aref Research Analyst maref@comesaria.org Tel: (+202) 2405 5428 Media Malek Bey Bey Communications: m.bey@beycommunications.com Tel: + 447901914022