Upbeat hosts Intra-Africa Business Symposium

The Intra-Africa Business Symposium will be held from 28 - 29 October 2009 at the Hilton Hotel, Sandton (Johannesburg), South Africa. The overriding theme is “Opening doors, creating opportunities for Post-conflict African countries”. African countries that have come out of conflict situations and are now implementing various reforms (ranging from political, economic and legal) to attract foreign direct investments. Countries that will be featured include:

• Central Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo-Brazzaville
  
• East Africa: Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Sudan
  
• Southern Africa: Zimbabwe, Angola and Mozambique
  
• West Africa: Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone

Major African regional blocks will participate in this event.

Bankable projects in the following sectors will be discussed with potential investors / partners:

• Mining
  
• Infrastructure Development
  
• Oil and Gas
  
• Agriculture
  
• Tourism
  
• Healthcare
  
• Information, Communications and Technology (ICT)
  
• Financial Services

Confirmed speakers:

• Dr René Kouassi, director of Economic Affairs at African Union Commission, Ethiopia
  
• Claude Chibaya, chief financial officer of Business Day Financial Mail
  
• Roger Ballard-Tremeer, chief executive officer: SA-Angola Chamber of Commerce
  
• Edgar Baloyi- director, Grupo Chicomo- Mozambique
  Dr. James Shinyabulo-Mutende, chief executive officer of Uganda Investment Authority
  Dr. Peter Karungu - East Africa
  
• Malik Dechambenoit, senior political adviser, Office of the United Nations Secretary-General Special Envoy for the Democratic Republic of Congo Crisis

An estimated 250 business delegates will be attending the event.