Africa-China Relations: Creating a Win-Win Partnership
China’s rapid growth could make it one of most phenomenal economic success stories of our time. In recent years, increasing Chinese investment in Africa has created seemingly mutually beneficial exchanges; China has found a fuel source to support its growth while Africa has increased its exports, infrastructure, and tourism revenue. As much as Africa stands to gain, critics point out the risk of imperialist exploitation, the deterioration of sound governance, and the increase of arms production. This panel will discuss the benefits, risks, and indirect side effects of the Sino-African relationship, and their implications for the future.
Featuring:
- Moderator: Dr. Marshall W. Meyer, Richard A. Sapp Professor of Management and Sociology at University of Pennsylvania
- Joseph Battat, Lead Investment Policy Officer, International Finance Corporation (IFC)
- Phillippe M. Heilberg, Chairman and Founder, Jarch Capital
- Clifford Shelton, Fletcher School 2006
- Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson, Former diplomat, United States Foreign Service
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Barclays - ABSA Deal: Case Study of an African M&A Transaction
Many economies in Africa are experiencing strong growth. Over the past three years Africa’s economies have, on average, achieved more than 5% growth and seven of the twenty fastest growing global economies are in Africa. The improving economic environment has not gone unnoticed and the international business community is beginning to appreciate the potential for the continent to generate profit and growth. The M&A transaction case study, presented by Barclays, will provide an overview of Barclay’s recent US$5 billion acquisition of South Africa’s largest retail bank, ABSA. The panel will discuss the strategic rationale for stakeholders and the execution challenges (African risk, African regulation, and valuation of an African company). The panel will also provide an overview of the African financial services industry, with a presentation of the main actors, market dynamics, and growth potential.
Featuring:
- Andrew Bainbridge, Managing Director, Barclays Africa
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Beyond Charity: Making African Healthcare Effective and Profitable
Effective healthcare is unquestionably one of Africa’s greatest challenges. How can the healthcare business sustain itself in an environment that has some of the world’s worst health epidemics, the world’s poorest patients, and a “brain-drain” which takes thousands of qualified medical professionals out of the continent each year? This panel will discuss how pharmaceutical and other health care companies can be viable in Africa. Additionally, it will discuss recent trends such as preceptor programs, the rise of local generics manufacturers, and public-private partnerships which seek to improve healthcare on the Continent.
Featuring:
- Moderator: Dr. Sarah Frew, Research Associate, Canadian Program on Genomics and Global Health at the University of Toronto
- Christin Hokenstad, Consultant, Dalberg Global Development Advisors
- Dr. Chudy Nduaka, Associate Director, Global Research and Development, Pfizer Inc.
- Dr. Egbe Osifo-Dawodu, Advisor, Sector and Thematic Programs, The World Bank Institute
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Consumer Goods: Growing Africa’s Appetite,
in partnership with
Viewing Africa as a burgeoning market for consumer goods is a relatively new idea. Companies like Celtel, which now has 15 million subscribers in Africa, The Coca-Cola Company, which is the largest consumer products investor in Africa with revenues of $4.1 billion dollars on the Continent or Diageo, for which Africa accounts for 10% of global turnover, have understood the potential for growth and profits as a result of intelligent marketing. New marketing models are applied to the Continent’s low income, fragmented, multi-lingual or multi-ethnic markets. On the other side of the spectrum, demand for premium brands is fuelled by the large disposable incomes of Africa’s new executives – young, ambitious and determined to live an international lifestyle. This panel will seek to identify the African consumer and their preferences, in addition to how branding strategies and new media can impact demand across the continent.
Featuring:
- Moderator: Douglas Smith, Chief Economist for the Americas, Standard Chartered Bank
- Bill Egbe, Division President Coca-Cola East & Central Africa Division
- Steven Hayward, Managing Executive, Retail Marketing, Telkom SA
- Debra Mallowah, Marketing Manager, Lagers & RTD, Diageo Africa
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Finding Value in Unexpected Places: Private Equity in Africa
While still a growing sector in Africa, private equity offers several opportunities for investors seeking higher than normal returns. Global players such as EMP, APAX, and Actis have recently found value in this unregulated terrain, through deals including privatization of state owned enterprises, expansion capital, and mezzanine finance. This panel will feature Africa fund managers who present situational context for investments in Africa, and will provide key insights and best practices for investment grade opportunities on the continent.
Featuring:
- E. Lenka Dewa, P.E.M, President and Director of Development, Rockwood Capital
- Idris M. Mohamed, CFA, Partner and Director, Advance Finance Investment Group, LLC
- Alan Patricof, Co-founder, Apax Partners L.P.
- Genevieve Sangudi, Associate, EMP Africa
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Making Africa an Attractive BPO Destination, in
partnership with 
Business process outsourcing and offshoring (BPO&O) is a major global trend, with a significant positive impact on employment and economic wealth creation in developing countries. A number of African countries have announced plans to develop their BPO sectors, yet to date Africa has only been able to attract a few large investments. This is in marked contrast to the development of the global BPO&O industry and the success of players such as India and the Philippines, which have rapidly growing sectors, stimulating growth and employment. In this workshop, McKinsey & Company will present findings from projects they have led in African countries, helping them develop a vibrant BPO&O industry which will serve as one of the key economic drivers for the country going forward. Issues to discuss include the size and nature of the overall opportunity for Africa, Africa’s value proposition (by country and segment), and key success factors based on the experience of global winners in the sector.
Featuring:
- Reinaldo Fiorini, Engagement Manager, McKinsey and Company, Johannesburg
- Acha Leke, Partner, McKinsey and Company, Johannesburg
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Re-Branding Africa’s Image and Changing Perceptions
Perception is King; and in the case of Africa, there is so much disparity between perception and reality. A wave of optimism has been sweeping across the Continent in recent years; yet it continues to lack the international image that accurately reflects the growth potential and confidence that has been so palpable to Africa’s current investors. Because there is so little global knowledge about individual African countries, every country ends up sharing the same reputation of violence, corruption and poverty. Maintaining a strong and positive African Brand could dispel Afro-pessimism as well as reveal what African countries have to offer in terms of exports, vacation destinations, employment options and investment opportunities. This panel will explore how a sustainable branding effort can alter current international perceptions of the African Continent.
Featuring:
- Leke Alder, Principal, Alder Consulting
- Eric Kacou, Director, On The Frontier (OTF) Group, Africa Region
- His Excellency, Dodou Bammy Jagne, Ambassador of The Gambia to the United States
- Thomas Pyle, Executive Director, Strathmore University Foundation
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Skills Repatriation and Implications for Africa,
in partnership with
A study by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), finds that Africa has been losing 20,000 professionals each year since 1990, while a similar study by the World Bank says that some 70,000 highly qualified African scholars and experts leave their home countries every year in order to work abroad. The skills shortage is increasingly perceived as the major obstacle to the economic development of Africa, and many experts recommend prioritizing the issue of human capital formation by actively engaging the African Diaspora. This panel will discuss the HR policies of major stakeholders on the continent and their effectiveness to attract the Diaspora. Additionally, it will discuss career tracks for graduate students, entrepreneurs, and other professionals pursuing or considering African careers.
Featuring:
- Moderator: Victor Banjo, Chief Human Resources Officer, Virgin Nigeria Airways
- Julia Eziashi, Human Resources Account Manager, International Financial Corporation (IFC)
- Nicholas Okoye, Group Executive Director, Operations, Strategy, and Business Development for Transcorp Nigeria
- John Patterson, Human Resources Director, Diageo Africa
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Technology and the Digital growth of Africa: Networking of Africa
The digital divide has disadvantaged Africa for the past several decades. Recent advances such as increased mobile phone and Internet usage have transformed the way cities and villages communicate and prosper. Multinational and regional technology firms have noticed the market potential within the continent and have increased investment. This panel will discuss recent activity in the mobile, Internet, and software space, and how this can trigger an “electronic revolution” among African businesses and societies.
Featuring:
- Moderator: Dr. Daniel Wagner, Professor, Penn Graduate School of Education and Director of the Bridges to the Future Initiative
- Ms. Olayinka David-West, Lecturer in Information Technology Management at Lagos Business School
- Dr. Cheick Modibo Diarra, Chairman for Africa, Microsoft
- Mugo Kibati, CEO, East African Cables
- James Mwangi, Associate Partner, Dalberg Global Development Advisors
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Trade and Investment in Africa: Enhancing Relationships to Improve Net Worth
Africa has historically been a source of international wealth, yet the continent’s trade revenues have consistently decreased since independence. As international regulations and institutions become more “globalized,” African countries must search for ways to maximize the benefit. Is one of these ways eliminating Western agricultural subsidies, which block almost $400 billion of annual trade revenue to the continent? Do preferential trade agreements such as AGOA with the United States or Chinese oil deals benefit African countries, or make them indebted to these countries’ agendas? This panel will address these questions, in addition to the effectiveness of inter- vs. intra-continental African trade.
Featuring:
- Dr. Laurie Ann Agama, Director for African Affairs, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)
- Benjamin M. Akuete, Vice President, M&T Bank
- Karanja Kabage, National Chairman, Federation of Kenya Employers
- Jasperdean Kobes, President and Owner, Bamboula Ltd.
Please note:
A panelist for the Wharton
Africa Business Forum misrepresented himself as being affiliated with the
World Trade Organization (WTO). Based on that misrepresentation, the
individual was invited to speak at the Forum, which was held on November 11,
2006 in Philadelphia
Regards,
Executive Team
Wharton Africa Business Forum
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