Seminar: Nye markeder i Afrika

TID: Torsdag den 23. oktober kl. 13.30-18.00

STED: Råvarebygningen, Porcelænshaven 22, Frederiksberg. 

TILMELDING: På dette link

TID: Torsdag den 23. oktober kl. 13.30-18.00

STED: Råvarebygningen, Porcelænshaven 22, Frederiksberg. 

TILMELDING: På dette link

Emergence of West Africa as destination for investments creates opportunities for seeking future markets. European, Chinese and American companies have spotted these opportunities and are moving massively into in the Western coastal area of Africa – unlike Danish firms. Why is that?

History, scarce political and economic relations, language issues and restricted firm resources for entering new markets might be some of the reasons why Danish firms tend to disregard this region. However, such factors have not held back Danish firms from entering emergent markets in the BRICS countries.

Therefore, it raises the questions whether the Western coastal area of Africa actually offers opportunities for Danish companies to exploit, or whether they are simply unable to see these openings.

The seminar will address these questions from three different angles:

• An African perspective on the region (by our keynote speakers)
• An “on-the field” perspective from successful companies entering these new emerging markets (i.e. Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, etc…)
• A business agent’s perspective

The afternoon’s aim is to address those things we routinely take for granted, by leveraging a blend of hands-on experiences and critical reflections, while offering a unique networking opportunity.

PROGRAM

13:30 – 13:45
Welcome

– Dorte Salskov-Iversen, Vice President for International Affairs CBS
– Bolette Christensen, CEO at BØRNEFONDEN
– Facilitator: Edgar Ikombo, Managing Partner, Ikompani

1. Where is Africa today? Which opportunities and challenges in West-Africa?
13:45 – 14:20
An African perspective
– Obiageli Ezekwesili, Senior Economic Advisor at Open Society Foundations, former Vice-President, Africa Region, World Bank, former minister the federal government of Nigeria as Minister of Nigeria

14:20 – 14:40
Unfolding Moroccan competitiveness by bridging Europe with (Sub-Saharan) Africa
– Hakima El Haite, Minister Delegate in Charge of Environment – Minister of Energy, Mining, Water and Environment of Morocco

14:40 – 15:20
2. Potentialities and challenges for Danish companies
2.1 Perspectives from successful Danish companies

– A way in through mergers and acquisitions, (to be announced)
– Cultural and linguistic experiences and challenges for Fast Moving Consumer Goods, Frédéric Jacob Hamburger, Export manager sub-Saharan Africa, Arla.

15:20
Coffe/tea break

15:45 – 16:25
– Approaching African Markets through Co-Creation – A New Way of Doing Green Business Internationally, Anne Bollerup-Jensen, Project Development Manager, Cleantech solutions.
– Falck: Cooperation between Private Companies and NGOs,  Jakob Schmidt, Senior Vice President

16:25 – 16:55
2.2 A scholarly perspective on lessons learnt
– Eric Komlavi, Associate professor, RUC
– Sudhanshu Rai, Associate professor CBS

Break (15 min)

17:10 – 18:00
3. Round table with business agents: Where are the potentials today? How to exploit these?
– Obiageli Ezekwesili, Senior Economic Advisor at Open Society Foundations
– Michael Lund Jeppesen, Danish Ambassador to Morocco.
– Peter Blom, CEO, Blom Trading.
– Mette Holst-Andersen, Partner in Nordekon, Africa Innovation Network
– Cinthia Thomsen, The African Chamber Of Commerce.

– Closing remarks by Mette Zølner, Associate Professor, CBS.

18:00
Reception

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BØRNEfonden is the biggest Danish private development organization working in five West African countries in Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Togo and Cape Verde. 

Ikompani is a Business Advisory Services company which focuses on linking both public and private enterprises with opportunities between Denmark, USA and West & Central Africa(principally,) through its vast network of influential and broad relationships, built on trust.