Lanre Akinola, Editor
This is Africa

Xavier Rolet, Chief Executive Officer
London Stock Exchange Group

Mark Simmonds, Minister for Africa
Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Minister of Finance of Nigeria

On the back of strong economic performance in recent years, and with investors looking to emerging and frontier markets for higher returns, Africa is gaining acceptance as a viable strategic investment destination by the international business community. But while capital flows are up, they remain low compared to other emerging and frontier market regions, and doubts linger about the sustainability of its current growth levels. Should optimism about its commercial potential be tempered, or does Africa now have the foundations to become the next big thing for investment?

• What is driving Africa’s growth, and how solid are its foundations?
• Do the revolutions in North Africa and the recent upheaval in countries such as Nigeria risk undermining the region’s growing business confidence?
• Why should global investors look to Africa over other emerging and frontier markets?

Panellists

Goolan Ballin, Chief Economist
Standard Bank

Alison Evans, Director
Overseas Development Institute

Elsie Kanza, Director, Head of Africa
World Economic Forum

MODERATED BY:

Lanre Akinola, Editor
This is Africa

Historically dominated by the extractive industries, an important aspect of Africa’s economic success over the past decade has been the emergence of new sectors. The financial services and telecommunications markets are now amongst the most dynamic across the continent, with momentum building behind other sectors including consumer, tourism and agribusiness. This is, in turn, opening up new markets, away from the larger, natural resource exporting economies.

• What sectors offer the strongest potential for investment, and what must be done to unlock it?
• How does sector diversification impact the investment potential of non – resource economies?
• Is it time to look beyond the usual suspects?

Panellists:

Jeremy Cleaver, Portfolio Director, Africa
CDC Group

Samir Gadio, Emerging Markets Strategist
Standard Bank

Graham Stock, Chief Strategist
Insparo Asset Management

Moderated by:

Lord Bell
Bell Pottinger

Along with increasing sector diversification, Africa’s growth is facilitating the emergence of high growth potential companies of African origin. A key component for growth, they are also important for international investment

• Who are these new champions, and what does their experience tell us about the region’s growth prospects?
• Are governments doing enough to foster the growth of more successful African companies?
• What is the role of international business in driving private sector development in Africa?

Panellists

Paul-Harry Aithnard, Group Head of Research
Ecobank Group

Carl Irwin, Director of Strategy and Development
Zambeef

Lado Gurgenidze, Chairman
Bank of Kigali

Jeronimo Nascimento, Executive Director
Endiama

Alex Otti, Chief Executive Officer
Diamond Bank

Moderated by:

Anushuya Gounden, Head of Africa Desk
Deloitte

This session will be an interview with the Minister of Finance of Nigeria Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. The focus of the interview will be the macro trends likely to shape Africa’s development prospects in the coming years.

Theme:

While much has been achieved to reposition Africa as a strategic investment destination for international business, it remains relatively small compared to other larger emerging and frontier economies.

Amid growing concerns over inequality and insufficient structural transformation, sustaining and accelerating the economic success of recent years may prove challenging. Is it too early to consider the continent amongst the world’s leading emerging markets, or has Africa turned the proverbial corner?

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Minister of Finance of Nigeria

Africa’s capital markets remain small, but are demonstrating growing maturity and depth. Their continued development will be essential if the region is to build on its recent success, and attract a growing pool of global investors.

• How can investors most effectively tap into the opportunities Africa’s capital markets offer?
• What are the main constraints on their development, and how can they be addressed?
• How is the Eurozone debt crisis impacting markets on the continent?

Panellists

Funsho Allu, Partner
46 Parallels

Melissa Butler, Partner
White & Case

Jonathan Cooper, MD, Middle East and Africa
FTSE

Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Executive Director, Business Development
Nigerian Stock Exchange

Mason Oghenejobo, Strategy and Portfolio Advisor
Seplat Petroleum

MODERATED BY:

Matthew Pearson, Head of African Equity Products
Standard Bank

A striking development of the past decade has been Africa’s fast growing commercial relationship with the world’s big emerging economies. The likes of China, India and Brazil are already important source markets for investment, with a growing number of countries in the Middle East, Asia and Latin America turning to Africa.

• What role are these new source markets playing in shaping Africa’s investment landscape?
• Can Africa’s new partners mitigate the adverse impact of the Eurozone debt crisis?
• How is the emergence of these new partners impacting development on the continent?

Panellists

Mahnaz Malik, Independent Consultant
12 Gray’s Inn

Vassi Naidoo, Vice Chairman, International Markets
Deloitte

Salman Siddiqui, Head of Middle East & Africa Equities
Nomura Asset Management

Tarek El Sherbini, Senior Banker for Southern & Eastern Mediterranean Region
EBRD

MODERATED BY:

Adam Green, Senior Reporter
This is Africa

Lanre Akinola, Editor
This is Africa