In Partnership With 2018 ANNUAL ECONOMIC SUMMIT AFRICA Trade, FDI and Innovation for Sustainable Development Las Palmas, Canary Islands November 12-15, 2018 www.tfi4sdsummit.org
TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the President of the Canary Islands Letter from the President of Cabildo de Gran Canaria Letter from the Mayor of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria About the Summit About the Canary Islands Structure of the Summit About GEI Speakers Registration Corporate Partners 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 14 15
Letter from the President of the Canary Islands Dear Delegates, As the President of the Canary Islands, I am delighted to welcome everyone to the 2018 Annual Economic Summit of the Global Economic Institute. The Canary Islands are an excellent business platform, an attractive place to live and a good hub from which to connect to the rest of the world. While our special 4% corporate tax rate is an immediate attention-grabber, the competitive advantage of the Islands extends to our international connectivity, communications infrastructure and the availability of qualified personnel. We are Islands, surrounded by our common Atlantic Ocean. Geographically African, and politically from the European Union, we are a hub from which to do business. Our economy is mainly focused on tourism; we receive more than 15 million tourists per year. Therefore, the diversification of our economy is related to internationalization. As an example of our tricontinental vocation, I would like to mention the European Interreg MAC program call for this year, which amounts to 63.8 million euros for projects in the Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores, Mauritania, Senegal and Cape Verde. We do hope that you enjoy the conference and all that our beautiful region has to offer during your stay. We thank the Global Economic Institute and its partners for choosing the Canary Islands to host the 2018 Summit. Thank you all for coming to the Canaries. Sincerely, Fernando Clavijo Batlle President & Head of Government, Canary Islands
Letter from the President of Cabildo de Gran Canaria Dear Delegates, It is a pleasure to welcome you to Gran Canaria to celebrate the 2018 Annual Economic Summit of the Global Economic Institute. We appreciate that the Global Economic Institute has chosen the Island to hold this important meeting. Gran Canaria is not only a consolidated and intertionally renowned tourist destination. Beyond tourism, it is a modern and competitive island in may other economic sectors in which the institution that I preside over works effort to promote. Gran Canaria has an ideal business environment for investment and entrepreneurship. Therefore, through the Best in Gran Canaria initiative, in which more than a dozen public and private entities are involved, we work jointly not only in the economic diversification of the Island, but also in attraction of investments and professionals in priority sectors such as audiovisual, marine biotechnology and aquaculture, off-shore activities and services, software developmen and remote work. In addition to its own economic and fiscal regime and the investment incentives availabe to companies and entrepreneurs, Gran Canaria has excellent airport, port and telecommunications connections, an important regional market, availability of qualified young talent and a competitive offer of spaces and services for the location of business activities. These advantages, together with the magnificient climate throughout of the year, its wonderfil natural surroundings, its extensive leisure offer, a competitive cost of living and the wide range of services, make the Island and ideal place to live and work. I invite you to take advantage of your stay in Gran Canaria to enjoy the hospitality of its people and discover and island full of opputunities. Antonio Morales Méndez President of Cabildo de Gran Canaria
Letter from the Mayor of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Dear Delegates, Welcome to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the city with the greatest demographic and economic weight in the Canary Islands. I welcome you to a tri-continental city, located on the axis that unites Europe with Africa and America. We are the spearhead of the European Union in Africa. Our diplomatic and commercial relations with the neighbouring continent are extraordinary. In addition, due to the geostrategic situation of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, our Port has become the main base for humanitarian organizations operating in many African countries, given the security and legal assurance offered by this European city. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria gathers the basic qualities to become an intercontinental hub between America and Africa. We have all kinds of transport, tourism, health, cultural, scientific and educational infrastructures. The main productive sectors have been established in our city for decades. We have a strong business community in which there is a close public-private partnership for the development of initiatives. One of our most determining conditions is a high quality of life. Gran Canaria and, therefore, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, is the main communication hub between Europe, West Africa and America. Thus, we have, in terms of the number of operations, the first airport in the archipelago and the sixth in Spain. Last but not least, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria offers other incentives for entrepreneurs. The most prominent is the most favourable tax regime in Europe, which equally extends to the rest of the archipelago. I hope your stay in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria will be profitable. I also invite you to discover and enjoy our city, neighbourhoods, as well as the wide cultural and gastronomic offer. I am sure you will discover a friendly, safe and open city to the world. The Mayor Augusto Hidalgo Macari
About the Summit In partnership with the Government of the Canary Islands, the 2018 Annual Economic Summit of the Global Economic Institute (GEI) will hold in Las Palmas, Canary Islands from November 12-15, 2018. Held every year outside our home country, Canada, under the Trade, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Innovation for Sustainable Development (TFi4SD) brand, the Summit is the flagship event of GEI. The 2017 edition was held at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos, Nigeria from November 1-2, with thought leaders, senior government officials, business leaders, distinguished academics, top diplomats, development partners and international trade and investment practitioners from Canada, United States, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana and other countries in attendance. The 2018 edition in Las Palmas will examine issues traversing trade, FDI, sustainable tourism, open innovation, maritime innovation, health innovation, sustainable energy systems, innovation in resource economies, financial technologies, artificial intelligence, public-private partnerships and the triple helix of industry academia-government interactions and their inter-jurisdictional spillover effects. In addition to Africa and North America, delegates and business leaders from Brazil, China, the Middle East, mainland Spain, Portugal, United Kingdom and other parts of Europe will attend this year s edition. 6
About the Canary Islands The Canary Islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean, south-west of Spain and north-west of Africa. The Islands enjoy a privileged status as a geo-strategic logistical platform connecting Africa to Europe and the Americas. Historically and culturally, the Islands have close ties with Latin America, in addition to the strong trading and institutional links with West Africa. The Islands are an excellent platform for trade, logistics and transfer of services and technology between continents as they are on the main international trading routes. Among other things: The Canary Islands are a part of the European Region and are fully integrated in the European Union. The Islands confer maximum legal guarantee, great tax advantages and double taxation conventions. The Canary Islands boast world-class quality of life, through for instance, first-class European healthcare and education, good climate averaging 71F temperature annually and cosmopolitan, modern and cheerful atmosphere. Residents enjoy wide and varied cultural and leisure offerings, with 48 weekly air connections with West African cities The Islands have maritime connections to all the ports in the area, as well as D-ALIX, neutral internet exchange point linked to Africa. 7
Structure of the Summit The TFi4SD Brand The annual TFi4SD Summit offers a unique platform to hear from global experts, build your brand, grow your network, and connect one-on-one with decision-makers, thought leaders, influencers, companies and potential partners from around the world. Pre-Summit FDI Training (November 12) In partnership with the Government of the Canary Islands and United States-based Conway, Inc., GEI will host a pre-summit FDI and Sustainable Tourism training seminar from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m on November 12. Economic development professionals in the Canary Islands, Africa and other jurisdictions will attend. This seminar will be facilitated by experts drawn from industry and academia. Attendance is optional for delegates attending the Summit. Mayoral Reception (November 12) The Summit will be declared open in the evening of November 12 during a Welcome Cocktail Reception to be hosted by the Mayor of Las Palmas, Augusto Hidalgo. Plenary Sessions (November 13 and 14) On November 13 and 14, a variety of issues will be addressed through our highly interactive plenary sessions, achieved through a combination of masterful facilitation, expert panelists and to-the-point questions. Trade, FDI, sustainable tourism, open innovation, maritime innovation, health innovation, sustainable energy systems, innovations in the resource sectors, financial technologies, artificial intelligence, public-private partnerships and the triple helix of industry academia-government interactions and their inter-jurisdictional spillover effects will be discussed. Red Carpet Gala Dinner (November 13) A red carpet Gala Dinner will be held in the evening of November 13 at the luxurious AC Hotel by Marriot Iberia Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Delegates will be treated to cusine and refreshments throughout the evening. This is a formal occasion; delegates are advised to be red-carpet ready. The President and Head of Government of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo Batlle, is the Special Guest. 8
Structure of the Summit Post-Summit Business Meetings and Sightseeing (November 15) At the end of the Summit on Wednesday November 14, a variety of post-summit activities will take place on November 15 and 16. These include strategic business meetings, site visits, and other sightseeing opportunities in Gran Canaria and Tenerife. In partnership with the Government of the Canary Islands, delegates will visit key Canarian institutions like the Free Trade Zone in the Port of Las Palmas. As well, working with the government-owned corporation, Proexca, and a Las Palmas-based tour operator, delegates will enjoy the privilege of exploring the spectacular natural beauty of the Canary Islands, as key monuments, cultural landmarks and attractions will be visited. 9
About GEI GEI is a non-profit research and development organization fostering public-private dialogue on global issues. Our research is interdisciplinary and collaborative; we are focused on internationalization and the triple helix of industry-academia-government interactions. The Institute s work is organized around four thematic areas: Trade, FDI, Innovation and Sustainable Development. We combine technical expertise, institutional experience, global perspectives and local realities to help advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our mandate is accomplished through the Institute s two strategic units: Global Division and Africa Division. The Africa Division, called the Global Economic Institute for Africa (GEIA), is the full-fledged arm that helps design and implement strategies and policies across the African continent, using GEI s vast network of experts and practitioners across industry, government and academia. Further information on GEI is available on our website: www.econinstitute.org 10
Speakers Fernando Clavijo Batlle President & Head of Government, Canary Islands Adam Jones-Kelly President, Conway, Inc., United States Jeff Finkle President, International Economic Development Council, United States Augusto Hidalgo Mayor of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria Dorothy Gordon Chair, UNESCO Information for All Programme, Ghana Arc. Namadi Sambo Chairman, Africa Power and Development Advisors; Former Vice-President, Federal Republic of Nigeria Pedro Ortega Rodríguez Minister of Economy, Industry, Trade and Knowledge, Government of the Canary Islands Dr. Fred Olayele President, Global Economic Institute, Canada Prof. Sidi Osho Professor of Agriculture/Former Vice-Chancellor, Nigeria Aaron Shull Managing Director, Centre for International Governance Innovation, Canada Amine Laghidi President, National Commission of Capital and Intangible Economy, Morocco Prof. Michel Rod Associate Dean, Sprott School of Business, Carleton University, Canada 11
Speakers Fabio Yukio Yamada General Manager (South America), Castlepines Investment Group, Brazil Dr. Troy Anderson Director, Sprott Centre for African Research and Business, Canada Fergus Maclaren President, ICOMOS International Cultural Tourism Committee, Canada Joanna Wajda Research Associate, Centre for International Governance Innovation, Canada Dr. Isaias Barreto da Rosa Former Commissioner for ICT, Economic Community of West African States, Cape Verde Dr. Isaac Rutenberg Director, Centre for Intellectual Property and IT Law, Strathmore Law School, Kenya Dr. Courtney Doagoo Post-doctoral Fellow, Centre for International Governance Innovation, Canada Dr. Chris Ekong Clinical Professor of Surgery (Neurosurgery), University of Saskatchewan, Canada Dr. Erika Kraemer Mbula Associate Professor, South African Research Chairs Initiative, University of Johannesburg, South Africa Peter Gunther Senior Research Fellow, Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis, United States Jacinta Nzioka Director of Marketing, Kenya Tourism Board, Nairobi, Kenya Pablo Martín Carbajal General Director, African Affairs, Canary Islands Government 12
Speakers Dr. Jude Emokpare Vice President of Global Health, Outpost Healthcare, United States José Ignacio Zabaleta Director General, MBA Business School, Las Palmas, Canary Islands Samantha St. Amand Senior Research Associate, Global Economy Program, Centre for International Governance Innovation, Canada Sam Anissimov Junior Counsel, Centre for International Governance Innovation, Canada Jose Luis Artiles Chief Executive Officer, Harven Group, Las Palmas, Canary Islands Dr. Oluwole Oduntan Chief Executive Officer, City Medical Centre, Canada Dr. Antonio Hurtado Managing Director, Rainmaker Global Business Development, South West Europe, Portugal Laura Jane Martin Market Development Manager, Conway, Inc., United States Dr. Cristiana Oliveira Rector, Universidad Europea de Canarias, Canary Islands Dr. Richard Clouet Vice-Rector, Internationalization and Cooperation, University of Las Palmas, Canary Islands Dr. Didi Emokpare Chief Medical Officer, Outpost Healthcare, Canada Cosme García Falcón Managing Director, Corporation for the Economic Development of Gran Canaria (SPEGC), Canary Islands 13
Registration The all-inclusive registration fee covers the following: 1. Access to all conference sessions, materials, lunches, tea and coffee 2. Group discount on hotel (discount code will be provided upon registration). 3. Welcome Reception on November 12 with the Mayor of Las Palmas 4. Red Carpet Gala Dinner on November 13 with the President of the Canary Islands 5. Free shuttle bus transfer between delegates hotels and conference venue 6. Free shuttle bus service to the airport 7. Complimentary breakfast buffet 8. Post-summit site visits and sightseeing tour of Las Palmas on November 15 14
Corporate Partners Presenting Partners Platinum Sponsor (Available to One Organization Only) Gold Sponsors Silver Sponsors Bronze Sponsor Knowledge Partners Official Airline 15
In Partnership With www.tfi4sdsummit.org