Commonwealth Business Council eNewsletter
August 2008

“The CBC is an excellent forum for supporting companies looking to do business with partners in other Commonwealth countries. The CBC’s ongoing commitment to developing deeper and more constructive links between the UK and India has been much in evidence recently” - Andrew Cahn Chief Executive UKTI

Africa Business Forum, London

HE Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni, Republic of Cameroon, and HE Prime Minister Bethuel Pakalitha Mosisili, Kingdom of Lesotho addressed a 300 strong crowd at the CBC’s annual Africa Business Forum. The Forum, this year, was titled ‘Partnerships for Achieving the MDG’s in Africa’, the event, held in London, brought together high-level representatives from the private sector, government and others with an interest in Africa.

At the forum government leaders, donors and businesses participating reaffirmed the critcal role of the private sector as the engine for development through growth. It was agreed that private sector opinion should be sought earlier in economic planning and prioritising and that there is a need for change from a paradigm where business perspectives are marginalised, or only sought when plans are already fixed.

The Forum concluded that for the MDGs to be delivered, the priority is to ensure that growth is both sustained and shared by the many rather than the few. Among other things, improvements in governance and transparency/accountability are critical. A focus on improving agricultural productivity, continuing to invest in core infrastructure, progressing regional integration and removing barriers to intra Africa trade are also needed. The forum’s final communiqué was submitted to the G8 meeting in Japan.

For more information and the final communiqué please click here

HE Ambassador Ibrahim Ali Hassan, Personal Representative of the President of Egypt, delivering a message from the AU Summit to the Forum

Left to Right: Dr Mohan Kaul, Lord Malloch Brown, Paul Skinner, HE Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni, and HE Prime Minister Bethuel Pakalitha Mosisili

CBC – Africa Business Awards, London

In conjunction with the Africa Business Forum, the first ever CBC-African Business Awards took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London during the evening of the 3rd of July.

Nearly 500 government, business and media leaders from across the world attended the CBC - African Business Awards, to watch Ephraim Inoni, Prime Minister of Cameroon, Bethuel Mosisili, Prime Minister of Lesotho, Neville Isdell, Chairman of Coca Cola and other prominent diplomats and businessmen present the 16 awards to the winners during a festive night aimed at celebrating the best of African Business.

Winners included: Mo Ibrahim - the Lifetime Achievement Award for changing the telecoms landscape in Africa and his contribution to changing the perception of doing business in Africa; Arnold Ekpe CEO, Ecobank won African Business Leader of the Year while Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, Director General, Nigeria Stock Exchange, won African Businesswoman of the year.

For a complete list of winners and further information please click here

Winners of the Africa Business Awards

Kristiane Efange has joined CBC as the Marketing Manager for the events team. Kristiane's last role was as a Marketing Manager for an organisation that worked on behalf of the UK government, a position she held for almost four years. An Associate of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, she brings a wealth of marketing experience to CBC gained through working for a wide variety of different companies, both commercial and non-commercial, in the UK. Kristiane can be contacted at kristane.efange@cbcglobal.org

East Africa International Business Forum, Rwanda
On the 29th and 30th October 2008 in Kigali, Rwanda, the CBC, in association with the Government of Rwanda, Rwanda Investment and Export Promoting Agency and the East African Business Council, is proud to host the first annual East Africa International Business Forum . The theme of the event, hosted by the President of Rwanda, is ‘Trade and Investment Opportunities: Growth through Global Partnerships’.

Click here to register online and receive a 10% discount..

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	Commonwealth Business Council eNewsletter August 2008 “The CBC is an excellent forum for supporting companies looking to do business with partners in other Commonwealth countries. The CBC’s ongoing commitment to developing deeper and more constructive links between the UK and India has been much in evidence recently” - Andrew Cahn Chief Executive UKTI
New Members	CBC Events
SBI Capital Markets Ltd. (SBICAP) is amongst the oldest players in the Indian Capital Markets and for a number of years has achieved a dominant market position in the Indian Primary Capital Markets. Over the years, anticipating the changing needs of clients in a rapidly opening economy, SBICAP has evolved an array of advisory services in almost all sectors of the economy. SBICAP is a pioneer in privatization in India, and has established itself as a leader in providing financial and advisory services on core sectors and infrastructure industries. Herbert Smith is a leading and full-service international legal practice with a 1,200-lawyer network across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and is acknowledged as being in the top tier in each of our main areas of work: transactions, projects and disputes. Our international capability is enhanced by alliances with leading West European law firms with whom we have worked on many major cross-border matters. Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. We aim to have a positive impact on businesses and markets, as well as on society as a whole. Our global operations bring together 87 Ernst & Young country practices. No other Big 4 firm has achieved this level of integration on such a scale and scope. We’re the first professional services firm to bring a borderless approach to the emerging markets of the Commonwealth of Independent States, India, the Middle East, Africa and the established markets of Europe.	CBC-SCCI Report Released Commonwealth and South Asia business leaders urge South Asian Heads of Government to pursue accelerated regional trade and growth The week of the 15th SAARC Summit in Sri Lanka from 27 th July 2008, CBC and the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry urged South Asian Heads of Government to drive regional growth through accelerated trade links. Recommendations to enhance intra-regional trade and remove significant barriers are: (1) Improve Mobility of People (2) Strengthen Communications and Transport Links (3) Finalise an Agreement in the Services Sector (4) Foster Cross Border Energy Investments and Regional Energy Trade (5) Implement Measures for Trade Facilitation and (6) Enable Direct Cross-Border Trade between India and Pakistan. The recommendations are based on a major report which shows that the current level of intra-regional trade could rise from $6bn. to $14bn. Two specific opportunities where there has been growing momentum and which address real needs are in the areas of services and energy. The report is freely available here.

	Kenya Investment Round Table and Dinner, London London’s investors, industrialists and financiers packed the historic Locarno Rooms at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London on 23rd July to hear the new Kenyan Prime Minister tell them that his country was “open for business” after the troubles following the country’s election in December 2007. More than 250 people with an interest in engaging with Kenya, gathered at the CBC organised event to learn about the wide range of opportunities Kenya represents, described in detail by the Prime Minister and his supporting team of six cabinet ministers. In the evening the Prime Minster spoke again about his vision for Kenya to a group of high-level personalities from the business community at a dinner given by the CBC at London’s prestigious Reform Club. He spoke of moving beyond his country’s recent trouble and ensuring Kenya is a business-friendly country that encourages international investment. For further information please click here	Delegates filling the Foreign & Commonwealth Office's Locarno Room
	Above - Left to Right: Dr Mohan Kaul, Rt Hon Prime Minister Raila Odinga, and Lord Malloch Brown	Kenyan Finance Minister John Michuki addressing the Roundtable
	Africa Business Forum, London HE Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni, Republic of Cameroon, and HE Prime Minister Bethuel Pakalitha Mosisili, Kingdom of Lesotho addressed a 300 strong crowd at the CBC’s annual Africa Business Forum. The Forum, this year, was titled ‘Partnerships for Achieving the MDG’s in Africa’, the event, held in London, brought together high-level representatives from the private sector, government and others with an interest in Africa. At the forum government leaders, donors and businesses participating reaffirmed the critcal role of the private sector as the engine for development through growth. It was agreed that private sector opinion should be sought earlier in economic planning and prioritising and that there is a need for change from a paradigm where business perspectives are marginalised, or only sought when plans are already fixed. The Forum concluded that for the MDGs to be delivered, the priority is to ensure that growth is both sustained and shared by the many rather than the few. Among other things, improvements in governance and transparency/accountability are critical. A focus on improving agricultural productivity, continuing to invest in core infrastructure, progressing regional integration and removing barriers to intra Africa trade are also needed. The forum’s final communiqué was submitted to the G8 meeting in Japan. For more information and the final communiqué please click here	HE Ambassador Ibrahim Ali Hassan, Personal Representative of the President of Egypt, delivering a message from the AU Summit to the Forum
	Left to Right: Dr Mohan Kaul, Lord Malloch Brown, Paul Skinner, HE Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni, and HE Prime Minister Bethuel Pakalitha Mosisili	Nandan Mer, CEO EMEA, UBA, addressing the Forum
	CBC – Africa Business Awards, London In conjunction with the Africa Business Forum, the first ever CBC-African Business Awards took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London during the evening of the 3rd of July. Nearly 500 government, business and media leaders from across the world attended the CBC - African Business Awards, to watch Ephraim Inoni, Prime Minister of Cameroon, Bethuel Mosisili, Prime Minister of Lesotho, Neville Isdell, Chairman of Coca Cola and other prominent diplomats and businessmen present the 16 awards to the winners during a festive night aimed at celebrating the best of African Business. Winners included: Mo Ibrahim - the Lifetime Achievement Award for changing the telecoms landscape in Africa and his contribution to changing the perception of doing business in Africa; Arnold Ekpe CEO, Ecobank won African Business Leader of the Year while Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, Director General, Nigeria Stock Exchange, won African Businesswoman of the year. For a complete list of winners and further information please click here	Neville Isdell, Chairman, The Coca-Cola Company, presenting an award at the Dinner
	Winners of the Africa Business Awards	HE Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni presenting an award at the Dinner
	New Staff
	Kristiane Efange, Marketing Manager, Events
	Kristiane Efange has joined CBC as the Marketing Manager for the events team. Kristiane's last role was as a Marketing Manager for an organisation that worked on behalf of the UK government, a position she held for almost four years. An Associate of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, she brings a wealth of marketing experience to CBC gained through working for a wide variety of different companies, both commercial and non-commercial, in the UK. Kristiane can be contacted at kristane.efange@cbcglobal.org

	Upcoming Events

	Click here to view all upcoming CBC Events Members Lunch for Gareth Thomas MP, London On 17th September the CBC will hold the first VIP dinner of the Autumn programme, for The Hon Gareth Thomas MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BURR), at the Reform Club, London. For all enquiries please contact: nicole.nwasike@cbcglobal.org East Africa International Business Forum, Rwanda On the 29th and 30th October 2008 in Kigali, Rwanda, the CBC, in association with the Government of Rwanda, Rwanda Investment and Export Promoting Agency and the East African Business Council, is proud to host the first annual East Africa International Business Forum . The theme of the event, hosted by the President of Rwanda, is ‘Trade and Investment Opportunities: Growth through Global Partnerships’. Click here to register online and receive a 10% discount.. Africa Investment Forum, South Africa The CBC is delighted to be hosting its flagship Africa Investment Forum, taking place on 18th – 20th November 2008 in Durban, South Africa. This year’s Forum will be focused on changing perceptions and creating an enabling business environment in Africa. The Forum will look at the contribution of business to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Click here to register online and receive a 10% discount	Click images below

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