Commonwealth Business Council eNewsletter
October 2008
"The Commonwealth Business Council plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between the public and private sector, small and large businesses, and developed and developing markets". - Hon Gareth Thomas MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State DFID, UK
Lord Malloch Brown addressing CBC Members
Paul Skinner addressing Africa Business Forum 2008
HE Kamalesh Sharma at CBC Members Lunch
KV Kamath, ICICI Bank at UK India Business Leaders Forum
Peter Sands, Standard Chartered Bank at UK India Business Leaders Forum 2008
Rt Hon Raila Odinga, EGH, MP, Prime Minister of Kenya at Kenya Investment Roundtable
Ann Grant, Standard Chartered Capital Markets at the 7th Annual Banking & Financial Services Forum 2008
Kitty Usher MP at the CBC 7th Annual Banking & Financial Services Forum 2008
Richard Morgan, Unilever at Africa Business Forum 2008
William Kingsmill, DFID at Africa Business Forum 2008
Message from HE President Kagame of Rwanda
East Africa International Business Forum, 29th and 30th October 2008
I am delighted to announce that the Government of Rwanda will be hosting the East Africa International Business Forum in Kigali, 29th-30th October 2008 in partnership with the Commonwealth Business Council, Rwanda Development Board and the East African Business Council.
The Forum will explore new opportunities for investment partnerships across East Africa, including Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi. The theme of the event is 'Trade and Investment Opportunities: East Africa - One Market, One Destination' and will look at East Africa’s progress towards a single market of 120 million citizens. The Forum will also help to identify the best investment opportunities for creation of greater wealth in East Africa.
The event will provide unparalleled networking opportunities for all attendees; in addition to the main plenary session, specific investors' roundtables will be held …
To read the complete message please click here
Click below to attend
Members Lunch for Gareth Thomas MP, London
CBC Members’ were given exclusive access to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Department for International Development (DFID), the Hon. Gareth Thomas MP in London on the 17th of September.
‘we all have a role to play in helping developing countries to be winners rather than losers from globalisation’, the minister told gathered CBC members and partner organisation representatives, before asking that all present put their 'expertise into creating new jobs, stimulating business, and incentivising the next generation of African entrepreneurs'
Gareth Thomas’s speech was followed by a lively question and answer session during which CBC members and representatives from partner organisations questioned the minster on topics as diverse as tax relief for investment in Africa to DFID policy on Zimbabwe following the recent power sharing agreement.
For event photos click here
For further information please contact Sam Goonetillake
The Hon Gareth Thomas responding to a CBC Member's question
Dr Mohan Kaul, HE Mr Joseph Muchemi, The Hon Gareth Thomas MP
Ms Sarah Hutchison and Mr Stuart Stoter
Mr Benny Dembitzer, CBC member asking the Minister a question
Members Lunch for Hon. Prof. G.L Peiris MP, London
On the 2nd September 2008 the CBC brought together Members and representatives of Partner organisations for a high level interactive lunch with Professor G. L. Peiris, Minister of Export Development and International Trade of Sri Lanka. CBC members were given the opportunity to discuss with the Minister issues as diverse as, global sourcing and the GSP+ preferential tariff.
The Minister warned of a growing perception-reality gap in terms of Sri Lanka’s recent trade and investment performance. He spoke enthusiastically of the opening of the Eastern province which has led to a rebuilding of infrastructure such as highways, irrigation systems, electricity, hospitals and schools. Exports from Sri Lanka are growing at 15% pa, and the EU’s GSP+ preferential tariff scheme has helped to support the employment of 175,000 people in the rural hinterland. The Minister commented that these and other indicators need to be better acknowledged by the international community.
For event photos click here
For further information please contact Sam Goonetillake
Nigel Denison and Hon Prof. G.L. Peiris MP
Dr Chris Nonis giving the opening remarks at the Lunch
Lunch sponsor
Hon Prof. G.L. Peiris MP, Sri Lanka addressing guests at the lunch
CBC at Commonwealth Finance Minister Meeting, Castries
The CBC will be taking a delegation of private sector leaders to contribute private sector perspectives to the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting (CFMM) in Castries, St Lucia on the 6th-8th of October 2008.
The theme of this year’s meeting is ‘Implications of High Food and Energy Prices for Economic Management’. The CBC will present a paper on this topic with inputs from CBC members, Unilever and Swiss Re.
The CBC will present further papers at a special breakfast meeting with Minsters on topics including, agricultural insurance, financing, e-health and health care infrastructure. The Delegation will be lead by Senator Sir Allan Fields, Chairman of Banks Holdings and CBC board member and will include representatives from Unilever, Swiss Re, Microsoft and InterHealth Canada.
To download the reports please visit our website, click here.
For further information please contact Gregor MacKinnon
CBC moves forward with the NEPAD African Payment Gateway
CBC and its partner NEPAD are moving forward with the African Payment Gateway contracted to launch in Quarter 4, 2009 – in good time for the 2010 World Cup.
Initiated by the e-Africa Commission of NEPAD, the APG builds new services around CBC’s Trade Exchange, the online escrow service that enables businesses to buy and sell internationally without the costs of the traditional letter of credit and risks associated with International trade. The new services allow African businesses to market their products and services inexpensively through the APG internet portal. Payment will be cleared through the Gateway with sellers assured of their funds and sellers guaranteed delivery.
CBC is marketing APG through a franchise model established with one of the major banks in each African Country. Banks who are interested in receiving information about this programme should contact either Ahmed Kassam at NEPAD akassam@e-adc.com or David Smith – Head of Marketing for the APG project at david.smith@africanpg.com who will be happy to provide further information.
CBC’s Financial Inclusion project ZippCard goes live in UK, Uganda and India
After two years of development, the brand new Zipp International Interchange and the ZippCard programme are ready to go live in October 2008. The programme has already been well received by a number of countries who recognise the benefits that lower cost remittances will have on their economies. The unique ZippCard to ZippCard transfer facility provides a major improvement and cost reduction in the domestic remittance market, as well as building locally held savings.
ZippCard Chief Executive, Vijay Kumar said, “The work and support we have had from CBC has been overwhelming, we are delighted that the project has now been adopted by the United Nations, too, who have recognised the potential ZippCard has to rapidly increase financial inclusion and make an impact on poverty as part of the Millennium Development Goals.”
The Zipp project is starting with UK and Uganda and the Indian business is being developed by the Commonwealth Finance Solutions (India) team in Chennai.
CBC and Zipp are now looking for investors and corporate partners to accelerate the deployment of Zipp - Around the World. For more information visit www.zippcard.com or write in the first instance to ceo@zippcard.com
Vijay Kumar
Zippcard Chief Executive
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’.
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- 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 session will cover a number of topics including, mining, access to finance and ICT & telecommunications.
Register online and receive a 10% discount
Africa Outsourcing Summit, London
CBC Technology, the technology & outsourcing arm of the CBC, is delighted to present the first ever Africa Outsourcing Summit on November 27-28, 2008 at the Hilton Canary Wharf, London United Kingdom. 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.
Africa Trade Finance Roadshow, Nigeria
The CBC present its inaugural Africa Trade and Export Finance Summit. This year's theme is "Increasing the Volume of Africa Trade" and it will be held on November 26th.
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-Arab-Asia Business Summit is scheduled for the 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.
For comments and further info please contact sean.leno@cbcglobal.org