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Netherlands to host Africa business conference
By Francis Ameyibor
ACCRA, Ghana, June 5, 2008 - The Netherlands is to host the first Africa-European Conference and
Exhibition about doing business in Africa dubbed: “Let’s Meet Africa and Do Business.”
The conference fixed for November this year in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, seeks to empower Africans and
European business communities with a new economic and cultural concept to enhance and facilitate trade
through mutual strength.
It also seeks to feature Eindhoven as a World Trade Centre with a key role for African business professionals,
Mr Marc Habets, Managing Director of OAVM Organisation & Consultancy of the Netherlands main organisers
of the event, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Thursday.
He said the century of donations and other financial development aid seem to be over as many African
countries had a steady economic growth and captured the attention of the business world.
“Africa is proving to be a vibrant emerging market with a climate that fosters growth. Africa is thinking out of the
box and is committed to be self-sufficient without the tag of a third world continent.”
“Africa is officially open for business and ready for take off,” he said, stressing that OAVM Organisation &
Consultancy use the conference to create a platform for product and service to the African and European
community.
Mr Habets said the past decade has witnessed growing diversity in income levels and growth across Africa as
according to international trade statistics sixteen countries grew by more than 4.5 percent a year over this
period, and several of them (including Ghana, Mozambique, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda) also diversified
their economies and exports.
He said the fastest-growing group of non-oil-producing African countries, which together represent 36 percent
of the population in Africa, grew at an average rate of 5.5 percent.
He said in contrast, the 13 slowest-growing countries, which represent 20 percent of the region’s population,
saw average growth of only 1.3 percent, growth for the region as a whole reached an estimated 5.3 percent in
2006.
Solid growth has helped to improve human development outcomes, especially in primary education.
Mr Habets said despite these positive signs, Africa is not growing rapidly enough to substantially reduce
income poverty the conference therefore seeks to give a considerable impulse in fighting poverty in Africa by
organising a structural platform where business people from Europa and Africa could meet and actually do
business or talk about opportunities and collaboration.
It’s expected that exhibitor, business entities, financial experts and large spectrum of acclaimed professionals
from all over the world, would use the conference to share a common platform for foreign investor and to
network with companies from Africa, the Netherlands and the rest of Europe.
Representation from World Cup 2010, Emerging Markets, Sustainable Business, Building your network in
Africa, African Market research and the development of Leadership in Africa are expected to participate.
Other representations will include Investment and Trade, Textiles, Transport and Infrastructures, ICT &
Telecommunications, leading companies in technology, banking, consumer products, energy and resources,
Social Corporate Responsibility, and Southern-African Chamber of Commerce.
Mr Habets said the conference is ideal for African companies who are seeking new export possibilities for their
services or products and for European companies who are looking for new opportunities for their companies in
Africa or an African business partner.
In addition to European Union, interested companies from the United States and Asia will be present.
end
By Francis Ameyibor
ACCRA, Ghana, June 5, 2008 - The Netherlands is to host the first Africa-European Conference and
Exhibition about doing business in Africa dubbed: “Let’s Meet Africa and Do Business.”
The conference fixed for November this year in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, seeks to empower Africans and
European business communities with a new economic and cultural concept to enhance and facilitate trade
through mutual strength.
It also seeks to feature Eindhoven as a World Trade Centre with a key role for African business professionals,
Mr Marc Habets, Managing Director of OAVM Organisation & Consultancy of the Netherlands main organisers
of the event, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Thursday.
He said the century of donations and other financial development aid seem to be over as many African
countries had a steady economic growth and captured the attention of the business world.
“Africa is proving to be a vibrant emerging market with a climate that fosters growth. Africa is thinking out of the
box and is committed to be self-sufficient without the tag of a third world continent.”
“Africa is officially open for business and ready for take off,” he said, stressing that OAVM Organisation &
Consultancy use the conference to create a platform for product and service to the African and European
community.
Mr Habets said the past decade has witnessed growing diversity in income levels and growth across Africa as
according to international trade statistics sixteen countries grew by more than 4.5 percent a year over this
period, and several of them (including Ghana, Mozambique, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda) also diversified
their economies and exports.
He said the fastest-growing group of non-oil-producing African countries, which together represent 36 percent
of the population in Africa, grew at an average rate of 5.5 percent.
He said in contrast, the 13 slowest-growing countries, which represent 20 percent of the region’s population,
saw average growth of only 1.3 percent, growth for the region as a whole reached an estimated 5.3 percent in
2006.
Solid growth has helped to improve human development outcomes, especially in primary education.
Mr Habets said despite these positive signs, Africa is not growing rapidly enough to substantially reduce
income poverty the conference therefore seeks to give a considerable impulse in fighting poverty in Africa by
organising a structural platform where business people from Europa and Africa could meet and actually do
business or talk about opportunities and collaboration.
It’s expected that exhibitor, business entities, financial experts and large spectrum of acclaimed professionals
from all over the world, would use the conference to share a common platform for foreign investor and to
network with companies from Africa, the Netherlands and the rest of Europe.
Representation from World Cup 2010, Emerging Markets, Sustainable Business, Building your network in
Africa, African Market research and the development of Leadership in Africa are expected to participate.
Other representations will include Investment and Trade, Textiles, Transport and Infrastructures, ICT &
Telecommunications, leading companies in technology, banking, consumer products, energy and resources,
Social Corporate Responsibility, and Southern-African Chamber of Commerce.
Mr Habets said the conference is ideal for African companies who are seeking new export possibilities for their
services or products and for European companies who are looking for new opportunities for their companies in
Africa or an African business partner.
In addition to European Union, interested companies from the United States and Asia will be present.
end
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About MBC Global
MBC Global is an international organization based near Detroit, Michigan, dedicated solely to increasing
cultural knowledge and awareness. MBC Global believes the more we know about the cultures flavoring the
world the better equipped we are to appreciate and embrace the differences that make each culture unique.
MBC Global also offers developmental and training programs, setting it apart from other cultural organizations.
For more information about MBC Global, send an email to info@mbcglobal.org or visit www.mbcglobal.org.
MBC Global is an international organization based near Detroit, Michigan, dedicated solely to increasing
cultural knowledge and awareness. MBC Global believes the more we know about the cultures flavoring the
world the better equipped we are to appreciate and embrace the differences that make each culture unique.
MBC Global also offers developmental and training programs, setting it apart from other cultural organizations.
For more information about MBC Global, send an email to info@mbcglobal.org or visit www.mbcglobal.org.
| © 2008 Francis Ameyibor of MBC Global-Accra. Permission granted for excerpts or entire article reproduction provided attribution is provided. Media Contact: Rick Weaver 248-802-6138 or rick@mbcglobal.org |
