Workshops Business Summit Netherlands-Africa

Per track, four to six inspiring speakers share their expertise, inspire your strategy and get you connected. The overview below is preliminary; prominent speakers are still in the pipeline and will be confirmed over the coming weeks. Seats per session are limited, so register early!


TRACK 1 ICT AND MEDIA
Bandwidth has finally reached Africa, connecting the continent. This results in markets evolving quicker than even the most optimistic observers had expected.
Track chair: Pim de Wit, Director VOAMF.  
 

ICT
(morning session) 
Everybody’s calling, but what is next? Mobile web? Mobile money? Secondary services? And how fast will the internet spread?
 
  • Tito Alai, owner of Mimi Africa and former CCO of Zain, helped to bring mobile communication to all of Africa.  
  • Ben White, founder of Afrilabs and enthusiastic supporter of the African Googles of tomorrow.
  • Russell Southwood, CEO of Balancing Act Africa, knows the telecoms, internet and audio-visual media industries in Africa like inside out.
Media
(afternoon session)    
Nollywood, digital TV, mobile web, radio and newspapers. What are the opportunities in the African media world?
 
  • Salim Amin, Chairman of A24 Media, runs Africa’s first online delivery site for material from journalists, African broadcasters and NGO’s from around the Continent.

  • Pieter van Twisk, director at Africa Interactive, runs an extensive network of African journalists to produce corporate videos and trailers of projects in Africa.

 

TRACK 2  ENERGY AND RESOURCES
The energy and resource sectors are booming as African governments work to build reliable infrastructures. 
Track chair: Rein Willems, Chair Regiegroep Chemie.

Energy
(morning session)
Access to energy and electricity is a number one priority on the continent. Who moves, who lags behind?  
  • Max van Der Sleen, of Ecorys 

  • Mark Fitzpatrick, of Aldwych International.

  • Pieter Klimp, MD of The Wind Factory

Rare resources (afternoon session) Many of the world’s rarest metals and other resources are found in Africa. What are the options?
 
  • Mark Heine, MD of Fugro Survey BV will showcase how surveys can help to gain access to resources.

  • André Diederen, resources expert at TNO Defence, knows exactly how rare a mineral is and what it is needed for. You will be surprised.

  • Ricardo da Câmara e Sousa of Tradesouth

  • Dr. Agostinho Pereira de Miranda of Miranda Alliance

 

TRACK 3  FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
Africa has the potential to feed itself as well as the rest of the world.
Track chair: Chris Kalden, Director Staatsbosbeheer.

Food
(morning session)
Some of the largest Dutch players in Africa are in the food industry. What do Africans eat and what do they contribute to food elsewhere?  
 
  • Cees Veerman, CEO of Bracamonte BV and former Dutch Minister for Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality, will speak about demography, climate, and food production in Africa.

  • Oladimeji O. Owofemi, Executive Vice Chairman Multi-trex Plc, a Nigerian food processing giant.

  • Eveline Roks of DSM

Agriculture
(afternoon session)            
From small subsistence farms to vast plantations. The national strategies for the sector differ widely. What are the most agriculturally dynamic countries in Africa?
 
  • Dr. Prem Bindraban, ISRIC- World Soil Information Presentation "Fulfilling the Promise of African Agriculture".

  • Teus Visser, WhiteBird.

  • Hugo Visscher , Koudijs de Heus

 
TRACK 4  BANKING, FINANCE, AND INVESTMENT
African economies are transforming quickly, largely driven by banking, finance and investment.
Track chair: Nanno Kleiterp, Director FMO.

Finance and
investment
(morning session)
An unprecedented flow of financial investment is now targeting African opportunities. What are they looking for?  
 
  • Matthijs Weeink of ICA, knows all about investment, economic development and competitiveness for countries in Africa.

  • Nigel Bannerman, of Silk Invest, connects the talents of investment experts in strategically selected growth region.

  • Vincent Kouwenhoven, of e Ventures Africa Fund 
Banking
(afternoon session)   
One of the fastest growing sectors on the continent is also one of the most innovative, with millions of people banking for the first time.
 
  • Claude Ayo, Finance Director of Investment Climate Facility for Africa is a red tape expert when doing business in Africa and lobbies hard to reduce it. 

  • Reginald Ihejiahi, Managing Director and CEO at Fidelity Bank Plc. 

  • Gerard van Empel, Rabobank.

  
TRACK 5  CONSUMER MARKETS
From Base of the Pyramid to luxury products, 900 million consumers are within your reach.
Track chair: Martin de Koning.

Consumers
(morning session)
A key factor for retail success in Africa is to develop a business model that fits. What are characteristics of success in African markets?   
 
  • Thomas de Man, Heineken President for the Middle East and Africa, shines a light on how Heineken connects with African consumers. 
  • Betty van Breemat, of Vlisco

Market research (afternoon session) Information about African markets and consumers is scarce. Learn from the top market researchers what we know and what we expect to learn soon.
 
  • Harry Verhaar, Head of strategic sustainability initiatives at Philips Lighting.

  • Alamine Ousmane, of Afriland First Bank

  • Frederik Vernede, MD of Research Solutions Africa, runs a consultancy for social and marketing research with inside knowledge in over 20 African countries.

 

Why attend?

  • The Business Summit Netherlands-Africa is the most prestigious Dutch conference on doing business in Africa in 2010.
  • The Business Summit Netherlands-Africa is the best place to take your Africa strategy to the next level.
  • The Business Summit is your best networking opportunity for doing business in Africa.
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