November 2008
"We thank the organisers of the Forum the Commonwealth Business Council... for providing this important platform for the exchange of productive and achievable ideas ". - HE Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, opening the East Africa International Business Forum
United Bank for Africa Plc (“UBA”) is a leading West African full-service financial institution. It offers a complete range of retail banking, commercial and corporate banking, investment banking, bancassurance and wealth management services.
UBA’s history dates back to 1948 when the British & French Bank Limited (“BFB”) commenced business in Nigeria. Following Nigerian independence from Britain, UBA was incorporated in 1961 to take over the business of BFB. Today’s UBA is the product of the 2005 merger between UBA and Standard Trust Bank Plc, which were then Nigeria’s 3rd and 5th largest banks respectively. The union emerged as the first successful corporate combination in the history of Nigerian banking.
Although today’s UBA emerged at a time of regulatory induced industry consolidation, the consolidated UBA was borne out of a desire to lead the domestic sector to a new era of global relevance; by championing the creation of the Nigerian consumer finance market, leading a private/public sector partnership in supporting the acceleration of Nigeria’s economic development, and growing the institution from a bank to a one-stop financial services institution, while spreading its footprint across Africa to earn the reputation as the face of banking in the continent.
Mr Nandan Mer, CEO UBA
East Africa International Business Forum
The East Africa International Business Forum opened by HE Paul Kagame on 29 -30th October 2008, engaged private sector representatives in the regions efforts to create a single market of its 120 million citizens and to drive consolidated economic growth. The Vice President of Tanzania, Dr Ali Mohamed Shein, and Hon. Dr Ezra Suruma representative of the President of Uganda and Minister of Finance Planning and Economic Affairs, along with 20 ministers and 52 Private sector leaders addressed the 500 strong crowd gathered in Kigali.
The hugely successful Forum, highlighted several key policy messages, and made a series of recommendations to the East African Community Heads of Government on how to drive economic growth and prosperity in the East African region.
Private Sector leaders gathered at the Forum urged the community Governments to become even bolder in accelerating reforms - especially in trade, in order to combat the negative impact that recession in the major economies will have on growth in East Africa. They argued that tackling the barriers to investment through the establishment of the single market will be critical to attracting local and international investors over the coming years.
To read the full communiqué and to view other materials from the Forum please click here.
Dr Mohan Kaul addressing the East Africa International Business Forum Opening Ceremony
HE Paul Kagame President of Rwanda opening the Forum
Reginald Mengi, CBC Board Member and Chairman IPP and EABC addressing the Opening Ceremony
Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting, St Lucia
A CBC delegation led by Sir Allan Fields, CBC Board Director and Chairman of Banks Holdings, presented CBC’s policy papers and recommendations to Finance Ministers during their annual meeting in St Lucia on 6-8 October. The special theme of the meeting focused on “Implications of High Food and Energy Prices for Economic Management”. Miguel Pestana, Vice President Global External Affairs, Unilever highlighted issues including the need for international co-ordination involving the private sector, a review of biofuels policies to abolish mandatory targets and subsidies, and the need for private public partnerships to help mobilise investment in agriculture, expand agricultural production and improve productivity. In their Communiqué, Ministers called on the international community to intensify its support for affected countries in handling the immediate impact of the crisis and to accelerate both short and longer term investments in increasing agricultural production and productivity and new sources of energy supply.
For further information or to download the policy papers please click here
The Top Table at the Breakfast Meeting, with Hon Stephenson King, Prime Minister of St Lucia, Sir Allan Fields and Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Ransford Smith and the CBC Delegation
Read the Article
at
The Policy Papers
To download please click on the icon
Food Prices and Agricultural Production in Emerging Markets – New Solutions From Insurance
The Implications of High Food and Energy Prices For Economic Management - Private Sector Perspectives
Delivering Healthcare Infrastructure for the Millennium Development Goal
Meeting the MDG Challenge: Financing Healthcare Delivery – Options for Finance Ministers
Hon. Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister Mauritius addressing AAA Business Summit 2008
Ms Elizabeth Tankeu, Commissioner for Trade & Industry, African Union addressing AAA 2008
HE Claver Gatete, Rwanda Ambassador at Africa Business Awards 2008
Mr Omari Issa, Investment Climate Facility, at African Business Awards 2008
HE Prime Minister Bethuel Pakalitha Mosisili, Kingdom of Lesotho at Africa Business Forum 2008
Mr Salil Shetty, Director, UN Millennium Development Campaign at Africa Business Forum
CBC at the UN High Level event on MDGs, New York
At the first of the three events, the UN Private Sector Forum - The MDGs and Food Sustainability, the CBC in partnership with cru Investment Management committed to “supporting the creation of megafarms in 16 African countries which will support small farmers, ensure a market and a price for the production, supply local silos, and potentially provide insurance cover for natural disaster risks”
The second event, Confronting the Diseases of Poverty to Meet the MDGs: Digital He@Lth, comprised of Global health leaders who forged a consensus and strategic framework on the use of digital technology in scaling up the achievement of the health-related MDGs.
The Final Event, African Development and Transforming the Climate for Business to Accelerate Private Sector-Led Growth and Progress Towards the MDGs , saw heads of African Governments and Business leaders come together to discuss how business and governments can work together to harness each other’s core strengths to improve the investment climate.
For further information please click here
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon opening the High Level MDG Event
Former US President, Bill Clinton, addressing the forum on the MDG’s and food sustainability
CBC and CCA host lunch for President Kibaki of Kenya, New York
On 24th September in New York, CBC and the US Corporate Council on Africa organised a lunch for President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya attended by over 200 leading businesses. This was the first time that CBC and CCA had co-hosted an event, and marked the first step in cooperation to support enterprise and development across Africa. The CBC and CCA bring together over 90% of the businesses based in the English speaking world which are active in Africa.
At the lunch President Kibaki spoke about Kenya’s stabilisation following the political crisis earlier this year, and the commitment of the country to restore strong economic growth.
Left to Right: Steve Godfrey, CBC, President Mwai Kibaki and Stephen Hayes, President and CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa
President Kibaki addressing guests gathered in New York
Africa Investment Forum, South Africa
The CBC is delighted to be hosting its Flagship Africa Investment Forum, taking place on 18th- 19th November 2008, in Johannesburg, South Africa. This year’s Forum will focus on generating investment in Africa, and will feature Investment Promotion Agencies from 12 African nations. Break out sessions will cover a number of topics including, mining, access to
finance and ICT & telecommunications.
Register online and receive a 10% discount
Africa Americas Arab Asia Business Summit 2009, Dubai
The CBC, Dubai Group and the United Arab Emirates are pleased to announce that our annual Africa-Americas-Asia-Arab Business Summit is scheduled for 4 - 5 February 2009 and will be in Dubai. The Summit is being organised in association with the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD). This forum will focus on the role of new economic actors in emerging economies in driving forward global economic development and wealth creation.
Register online and receive a 10% discount
Africa Outsourcing Summit, London (NEW DATES – 23-24 FEBRUARY 2009)
Commonwealth Technology, the technology & outsourcing arm of the CBC, is delighted to present the first ever Africa Outsourcing Summit NOW ON 23-24 FEBRUARY 2009 in London. This Summit, will offer a platform for many African nations to showcase their attractiveness to European companies that are currently looking to expand their outsourcing options.
Register online and receive a 10% discount
For comments and further info please contact sean.leno@cbcglobal.org