The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry today announced that five African presidents, three prime ministers and more than seven ministers have confirmed their presence at the Africa Global Business Forum 2014.
Organised by Dubai Chamber under the patronage of Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the forum will be held at Atlantis, The Palm on 1st and 2nd October. It will also be attended by a large number of business leaders and key decision-makers from Africa and the region.
Dubai Chamber has also announced the official partners and sponsors of the Forum, which will be the region’s premier event on investing in the African continent.
The list includes the Investment Corporation of Dubai, ICD, as a title partner, DP World as a platinum sponsor, Dubai Islamic Bank and Nakheel as gold sponsors, Dubai Investments and Eagle Hills as silver sponsors, while Standard Bank and ECOWAS are official partners.
To be held under the theme ‘New Realities – New Connections’, attendance at this year’s forum is by invitation only and will bring together an exclusive audience of 500 top government ministers, officials and corporate decision-makers, heads of multinational companies, directors of private banks, wealth management companies and sovereign funds, Emirati and global business leaders and leading officials of investment promotion agencies in Africa.
Local presence at the Africa Global Business Forum 2014 includes Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State and Managing Director of Dubai Expo 2020, Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, Mohammed I. Al Shaibani, Executive Director and CEO of the Investment Corporation of Dubai and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman, DP World.
Confirmed speakers and delegates include Dr. Mulatu Teshome, President of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda and Armando Guebuza, President of Mozambique. Other participants include Luc Adolphe Tiao, Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, Amama Mbabazi, Prime Minister of Uganda and Moussa Mara, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mali.
Africa’s delegation to the forum will also include Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Energy and Finance from the Republic of Mozambique, Ministers of Commerce and Industry & Investment Promotion from the Republic of Mali, in addition to Cheick Mobido Diarra, Transitional Prime Minister of Mali, Amb. Amina Mohammed, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Republic of Kenya, Bernarda Goncalves henriques da Silva Martins, Minister of Industry, Republic of Angola, Festus Mogae, the Former President of the Republic of Botswana, Admiral Mohab Mohammad Hussein Mameesh, Chairman of Egypt’s General Authority for Economic Zone, North-West Gulf of Suez, Hon. Dr Richard Sezibera, Secretary General, East African Community (EAC), Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, President of the Economic Community of West African States Commission, ECOWAS, and Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dangote Group and Africa’s richest man.
Hamad Buamim, President and CEO, Dubai Chamber, said the presence of prominent business leaders and decision-makers from Africa and Dubai will enrich the forum and make it an ideal platform to show African companies how to utilise the emirate’s experience in stimulating economic renaissance while enhancing the competitiveness of Dubai as a gateway to investing in Africa.
Buamim pointed out that under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai has become the main venue for U.A.E. companies seeking to expand in promising African markets, stressing that Dubai Chamber’s plan to open more representative offices throughout Africa is a true reflection of its commitment to raise the competitiveness of the business community in Dubai.
Source : WAM News Agency for United Arab Emirates
