Investors, Regulators, Others Set for 2017 US-African Conference

• Investors, Regulators, Others Set for 2017 US-African Conference

Investors, regulators, prominent business leaders, business owners, potential investors, policy makers, leading academics are among the invited speakers from Africa and the United States for the 2017 US – Africa Business and Economic Development Conference, according to a statement by the organisers on Tuesday.

The conference, according to the statement, will explore the opportunities that exist in the areas of energy, healthcare, technology, oil and gas, hospitality, tourism, infrastructure, manufacturing, and agriculture, for mutually beneficial business and economic exchanges between the US and sub-Saharan countries.

It is slated for Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, US from September 21 to 23.

Among invited speakers are the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investments, Nigeria, Dr. Okey Enelama; the Minister of Finance, Ghana, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta; the Chief Executive Officer, Heritage Capital Markets Limited, Nigeria and former President, Institute of Chartered Accountants’ of Nigeria, Mr. Chidi Ajaegbu; the Executive Governor, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, Mr. Udom Emmanuel; Chairman, Committee on Foreign Direct Investments, Akwa Ibom State Government, Mr. Gabriel Ukpeh.

Also in the list of participants are the President, Black Business Alliance of Connecticut, Mr. Frank Dixon; Founder of SPG Investments, one of the most successful black-owned businesses in America, Mr. Carlton Highsmith; Governor of the State of Connecticut, Mr. Dannel Malloy; the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the US Commerce Department for Middle East and Africa, Mr. Skip Jones.

Leading officials from the US Export-Import Bank, the US Small Business Administration, among others, are also expected at the forum.

The organisers stated, “We also plan to hold workshops/break-out sessions with experts on how to navigate trade barriers.

“This is the third business conference organised by the US and Africa Development Organisation, a US-based nonprofit corporation. The previous two, also held at Yale, included addresses by US Senator, Chris Murphy and Mr. Matthew Murray, the then Deputy Assistant Secretary for Europe, Middle East and Africa of the US Department of Commerce.

“USAADO is pleased this year to welcome as cosponsors the Black Business Alliance, the Yale Council on African Studies, the State of Connecticut Commission on Equity and Opportunity, the Business School of Southern Connecticut State University, the City of New Haven, Carrington Financial Services, and Facorne Technologies. We extend a warm welcome to interested participants from Africa”