Egypt to host COMESA Investment Forum

16 Feb 2010

The 3rd COMESA Investment Forum will take place 12 - 13 April 2010, in Sharm-El-Sheikh, Egypt. Organised by COMESA Regional Investment Agency (COMESA RIA), in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Investment and General Authority for Investment (GAFI), the forum will focus on driving investment to COMESA and Africa.

Ministers from the 19 member states will be present at the forum. Participation is strictly by invitation and will host senior policy-makers with regional and international business leaders and investors. Speakers and participants include Donald Kaberuka, president of the African Development Bank, Dr Ahmed Heikal, chairman of Citadel Capital, Michael Joseph, CEO of Safaricom. One of the key addresses will be delivered by Dambisa Moyo, the controversial author of Dead Aid.

The two-day programme plans to cover key issues on the sectors relevant to the COMESA region, such as infrastructure, ICTs, agriculture and agro-processing, renewable energy, financial services and tourism. Participants and potential investors will be able to engage one-on-one with ministerial officials to deliberate these topics.

Sindiso Ngwenya, COMESA secretary general, commented: “I am glad to say that we have seen considerable progress throughout COMESA member states who have improved their rankings in all international ‘doing business' and ‘investment climate' reports. COMESA as an organisation is committed to upholding economic and social progress to ensure regional economic integration and the governments of the individual COMESA regions will have their role to play. By attending this forum you will see that COMESA is truly open for business and this vast largely untapped market is ripe for investment.”

Dr Mahmoud Mohieldin, Minister of Investment of Egypt, a protagonist in Egypt's recent economic reform programme, stressed the importance of a regional block: “Regional integration is key to enhance productive capacities and improve competitiveness of African economies, especially if we want to participate in an increasing globalised economy. This conference will serve as a platform to discuss investment opportunities and to forge genuine partnerships between the COMESA-Africa member states and the international business communities.”

COMESA comprises of 19 member states stretching from Libya to Swaziland and was established to collaborate in economic development through deep regional integration.

For more information, go to www.comesainvestmentforum.com.