Saturday Nov. 10th 2007 |
Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA |
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panels
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Thematic 1: The Revival of Trade and Private InvestmentCan Trade Blocs Lead to the Emergence of Competitive African Economies in Finished Goods Manufacturing? An African rise to prominence in finished goods manufacturing has been slowed by numerous factors in the past, including tariff structures in several trading partner countries that favor raw materials imports over finished goods imports. What kinds of trade alliances and technologies will be necessary for African manufacturers to compete in finished goods manufacturing on a global scale? Are there any lessons that can be learned from the rise to prominence of Asian manufacturing companies over the past decades? What trading environment would African manufacturers who are currently successful prefer? Moderator: Richard E. Mshomba, Ph.D., Professor, Economics, LaSalle University, Philadelphia, PA Panelist 2: Andreas Renner, Director, International Network Planning, Delta Air Lines, Atlanta, GA Panelist 3: Tai ‘Tiger’ Teng, Chief Economist, Research Center of Galaxy Securities, Vice Director, Securities Analysts Association of China
Entrepreneurship – Success stories in African Entrepreneurship African entrepreneurs are pioneering across the continent, shaping their communities by establishing and expanding businesses. These entrepreneurial and often grass-roots community efforts contribute not only to local and national economies but also to the general march that Africa continues to take towards becoming a more entrepreneur-friendly continent. This panel investigates the best practices and analyzes successful cases of African entrepreneurship in the hopes of identifying ways to replicate those. Moderator: Mimi Alemayehou, Managing Director, Trade Links Panelist 1: Selena Cuff, President, CEO, Heritage Link Brands, LLC Panelist 2: Greg Durst, Managing Director of Endeavor South Africa Panelist 3: My Luu, Market Development Executive, IBM Panelist 4: Emmanuel Monthé Siewe, Managing Director, Group Monthé Panelist 5: Chris Whitfield, CEO, Batswadi Pharmaceuticals
Capital Markets – Expanding Investors’ Appetite for African Stocks and Bonds African securities exchanges are gaining momentum and exposure as they continue to outperform other market places and, since 2001, sustain double digit annual growth. This panel explores the factors which drive mutual and hedge funds to invest in African securities and delve into the threats and opportunities, institutional hurdles and impacts of constrained money supply on investment in African exchanges. Moderator: Yvonne Ike, Executive Director, JPMorgan Chase Panelist 1: Tuna Amobi, Senior Director, Standard & Poor’s Equity Research Services Panelist 2: Abbai Belai, Managing Director and Head of Origination and Financial Solutions Group – Renaissance Capital Panelist 3: Anoop Kumar, Senior Portfolio Manager, SEI Panelist 4: Steven Bailey-Smith, Stanbic Panelist 5: Tom Beatty, Citi
Venture Capital & Private Equity – Financing African Enterprises: Investigating the Increasing Presence of Private Equity and Venture Capital Funds in Africa Limited access to capital has arguably been the greatest challenge facing African enterprises. Recently, private equity and venture capital funds have been actively resolving this issue. From mega-deals such as Bain Capital’s buyout of South Africa’s Edgars Consolidated Stores (Edcon) for $3.5 billion to micro-deals involving SMEs, private capital is leaving its mark on African economies. Venture capital and private equity firms are also providing much needed business administration, marketing, and management advice. This panel investigates the role of venture capital/private equity in fueling the development of enterprises in Africa with the aim of identifying the common challenges facing these funds and the means by which stakeholders can ameliorate the process. Moderator: Jude Tuma, Managing Partner, Geminus Capital Partners Panelist 1: John Ababio, Managing Director, African Venture Capital Association (AVCA) Panelist 2: Ayaan Adam, Head and Manager of Private Equity and Investment Funds, IFC Panelist 3: Alex Ripley, Bain Capital, Senior Associate Panelist 4: Okezie Ofoegbu, Associate, ECP Africa Competing Globally in Services and Infrastructure by Adapting Proven Technologies The world is flat! As a result of technological advances, geographical distance no longer poses a barrier to global trade in financial and accounting services, customer support services, and design services, among others. African companies are increasingly attracting off shoring opportunities with operations set up in countries such as Ghana, Tunisia, and Senegal, etc. This panel discusses how Africa can narrow the technology gap and become a premium destination for outsourcing opportunities. Moderator: Yaw Owusu, Managing Director, Gateway Innovations, Ltd Panelist 1: Kunle Malomo, Co-Chairperson, African Venture Capital Fellows Program Panelist 2: Antoine Bigirimana, Chief Executive Officer, Electronic Tools Company Panelist 3: Joseph O. Okpaku, PhD, President and CEO, Telecom Africa International Corporation Thematic 2: New Era of Public Sector InvestmentMcKinsey Case Study: Africa Rising – Building African Lions What will it take to grow Kenya's economy at 10% p.a. consistently over the next 25 years? How can Nigeria resolve the funding challenges within its oil & gas industry - which accounts for 40% of its GDP? What should Morocco do to maximize the value from its export-oriented sectors? How should South Africa position itself as an attractive BPO destination - and create quality jobs along the way? What type of institution should be setup to help drive Economic Transformation across Africa? McKinsey has significant experience working on such economic development issues in low and middle income countries, and has developed a systematic approach to help clients address key challenges and take advantage of specific opportunities in this area. This presentation will share a codified overview of McKinsey's experience, knowledge, and approach to economic development, and discuss a few case examples of our recent work on general country and specific sector strategies across Africa. Moderator: Gachao Kiuna, Engagement Manager, McKinsey’s Sub-Saharan Africa office Panelist 1: Saf Yeboah-Amankwah, Partner, McKinsey Washington, D.C. Energy and Raw Materials – Managing the Scramble for Africa’s Natural Resources The world’s appetite for light sweet crude oil has never been more voracious. With 8% of the world’s proven oil reserves and 1/3 of global minerals, Africa has become a strategic interest not only the United States but to other fast growing emerging markets including China, India and Brazil. This panel examines how African countries use the current boom to their advantages and avoid the mistakes of the 70’s when raw materials revenues were squandered. Also discussed will be how, if at all, African countries should invest and compete in renewable energy generation.\ Moderator: John Ghazvinian, author of Untapped: The Scramble for Africa’s Oil, journalist Panelist 1: Koosum Kalyan, Business Development Advisor Africa, Shell International Panelist 2: Dr. Martin E. Sandbu, Lecturer, Department of Legal Studies and Business Ethics, Panelist 3: Osman Shahenshah, CEO of Afren Plc Panelist 4: Ian Yhap, CEO of Cape Resources, Partner of Alexus-Nextgen, Inc. and former Managing Director of Liberia Electricity Corporation
Infrastructure Investments and Capacity Building Africa’s rise to prominence as a manufacturing and post industrial location has been slowed by its limited Infrastructure capacity. The ability to mass produce at low unit cost and compete in the global market requires bold and heavy investments in power and transportation infrastructure. Given the current shortfall, and the scenario forecast for population growth, the need for investments is great. This will be a discussion on the extent of Infrastructure investments needed. Moderator: Kola Karim, CEO, Shoreline Power Panelist 1: Lola Akinleye, Head, Corporate Finance & Advisory, Zenith Capital Ltd Panelist 2: Jack Edlow, President Edlow International Panelist 3: Swaady Martin, Market Strategy Manager, Africa & Middle-East GE Transportation Panelist 4: Maina Mwangi, Head of Investment Banking for East, Central and Southern Africa Panelist 5: Christine Rohan, GE Africa
Investors in Africa: The Assessment and Management of Political Risk The panel will discuss political risk assessment and mitigation strategies that the vast majority of potential investors are not aware of, with the aim of encouraging investments in Africa. Most importantly, it will discuss political risk from the perspective of African governments, and what African governments are doing (or can do) to address these concerns, and to create a sustainable, investor-friendly environment. Political risk assessment and management is an ill understood and underappreciated topic, yet political risks are the highest barriers to long-term, direct and indirect investments, which are essential to the growth and development of Africa. The panel will therefore immensely benefit students, scholars, investors, and governments with an interest in the growth and development of Africa. Moderator: Lee Cassanelli (Ph.D.), Associate Professor, Department of History, University of Pennsylvania Panelist 1: H.E. Amina Salum Ali, African Union Ambassador to the USA Panelist 2: Mandé Sidibé, Chairman of Ecobank, Former Prime Minister of Mali (2000 – 2002) Panelist 3: Tuna N. Amobi (CFA, CPA, JD), Senior Director, Standard & Poor’s, Equity Research Services, NY Panelist 4: Mauro De Lorenzo, resident fellow in foreign and defense policy, American Enterprise Institute, Washington, D.C.
Climate Change: The imperative of an environment Friendly Industrialization in Africa Few people are aware of a frightening and ominous fact: while Africa is the continent least responsible for the impending doom of Climate Change, it stands to be the continent most heavily impacted by its consequences and ramifications. Absent immediate steps towards intervention on the part of the African and global community, Global Warming and the rising sea levels that will come with it will spell disaster for Africa. However, Africa is also blessed with a unique opportunity: its younger stage of maturity along the development curve gives African nations the choice to modernize and industrialize in an environmentally conscious manner. Furthermore, its abundant natural resources permit Africa to engage innovative development strategies to promote increased economic growth as well as conservation and clean energy. What are some of these strategies and what opportunities are there for established companies and entrepreneurial upstarts to exploit? Moderator: Lisa Handy, Senior Director for U.S. Government Affairs, Conservation International Panelist 1: Ms. Marjory-Anne Bromhead, Sector Manager, Environment and Natural Resources Africa, The World Bank Panelist 2: Katherine Daniels, Senior Advisor with the Private Sector Department, Oxfam America Panelist 3: Ms. Marilou Uy, Sector Director for Finance and Private Sector Department, Africa Region
Thematic 3: Innovative Initiatives that are Changing the Face of AfricaNew Partners for Africa’s Development – New Partnerships in Business and Leadership Development Backed by the name and credibility of well accomplished entrepreneurs or politicians, organizations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and the Clinton Foundation, to name a few, have had mounting success in raising private and public funds as they address the healthcare, leadership or agricultural needs of the continent. This panel explores how this relatively new breed of NGOs is making a difference in the lives of Africans, and how those successes can be replicated. Moderator: Dr. Emma Osong, PhD Panelist 1: Brian Anderson, MaAfrika Tikkun Panelist 2: Jørn Lyseggen, CEO, Meltwater Panelist 3: Chris O. Odindo, CEO, International Development and Policy Corporation Panelist 4: Jonathan Johnnidis, University of Pennsylvania Panelist 5: Dr. Meshach N. Ong’uti, CEO, Healthcare Alliance International
International Organizations and Africa – Exploring New Roles for Bretton Woods Institutions (IMF & World Bank) Development specialist and several world renowned economists are openly critical of the role the IMF and World Bank have played in Africa since the independence. They, and other critics alike, argue that Structural Adjustment Programs and aid policy recommended and funded by multilateral organizations have often failed to meet their development goals and have rather created social unrest. In light of these observations, many voices are calling for an overhaul of these institutions as well as increased oversight and accountability. This panel addresses economic and related geopolitical issues such as ways in which the IMF and World Bank can improve their records in Africa. After a tour of the internal functioning of these organizations, panelists will debate on the future of the IMF and the World and explore potential changes. Moderator: Stephen Golub, Franklin and Betty Barr Professor of Economics Swarthmore College Panelist 1: John Wakeman-Linn, Advisor – Africa Department, IMF Panelist 2: John Fobanjong, Professor of Political Science and African Studies, University of Arizona Panelist 3: Désiré Vencatachellum, Principal Research Economist, African Development Bank Panelist 4: Sudhir Shetty, Sector Director, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management (PREM)—Africa Region, World Bank
Africa’s fast growing film industry – Nollywood (Nigeria) Fespaco and many others Nollywood has become the 3rd largest film industry in the world behind Hollywood (US) and Bollywood (India). Beyond Nigeria, other Africans producers are successfully gaining recognition in the global market place. Tsotsi, the South African produced film took home the best foreign language film award at the 2006 Academy Awards. Danny Glover was a member of Jury at Africa’s top film festival in 2005. This panel explores how African directors, producers and actors can propel their careers beyond their traditional African consumer and what international partnerships re most likely to facilitate this transition. Moderator: Mrs. Yinka Fayomi, founder and chairman advisory board, Foreign Investment Network (FIN) Panelist 1: Mr. Zeb Ejiro, President/CEO, Movieland Network Limited Panelist 2: Mr. Yves Bollanga, Co-founder, 3A Telesud Panelist 3: Mr. Emeka Mba, Director-General, National Film and Video Censors Board
Business Ethics – Empirical Approach to Promoting Best Practices of Corporate governance It is no secret that massive institutionalized graft and corruption has retarded Africa’s economic and corporate development. However, similarly weak corporate governance environments elsewhere have nonetheless yielded stellar investment opportunities and enviable growth stories. What are concrete achievable strategies for improving transparency, accountability and consequently investor confidence for the continent? Are there attainable methods of harnessing global growth trends and the relentless push towards globalization to incent higher ethical standards within Africa’s business community? To what extent are foreign bodies – both governmental, NGO and corporate – culpable for the tremendous capital flight from Africa? How can interested governments harness capitalism and economic incentives to bolster a greater adherence to the rule of law? Moderator: Regina Tawah, Assistant Professor of Economics, Bowie State University Panelist 1: Ken Igbokwe, Country Managing Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers Nigeria Panelist 2: Andy Cook, Director, West Africa Hub Panelist 3: David Schaft, Manager Carana Panelist 4: Robert Telchin, International Trade Specialist US Department of Commerce
OTF Group Case Study – Enterprise Solutions to Poverty: Role of Products in Prosperity Creation African prosperity will only happen through the existence of vibrant private firms. Such firms create truly competitive products that can transform their clusters and their nations. As firms look beyond their activities to the enabling environment in which they operate, a focus on product can simplify coordination and align interests for the benefits of the entrepreneurs and the nation. Development initiatives are challenged to find the appropriate level of intervention to achieve both impact and scalability. This panel proposes specific OTF Group case studies and best practices for future African leaders to foster create prosperity through a focus on competitive products. Moderator: Eric Kacou, Regional Director for Africa, OTF Group Panelist 1: Neal Donahue, Director, OTF Group Panelist 2: Marcela Escobari, Director, OTF Group Prospective Students PanelGain valuable insights on applying to Wharton Network with current Wharton students and learn about the Wharton community
When: Friday November 9 2007 Where: Wharton School Topics of discussion GMAT Useful links
Cocktail reception organized on behalf of prospective Wharton studentWhen: Friday, November 9 2007 Where: Mad 4 Mex
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